Lafayette, LA – Cajun Musician Dies Days After Being Hit By Car In Police Pursuit

Lafayette, LA (June 4, 2019) – A well-known 85-year-old Acadiana Cajun musician lost his life after riding as a passenger in a car that was hit by an automobile involved in a police chase. The accident occurred on LA-182 near Birdsong Road on Thursday, May 30^th at approximately 4:30 p.m.

At the time that the crash occurred, 38-year-old Ashley Berza from Lafayette was being pursued by a Lafayette City Marshall as she drove north on LA-182 in her 2006 Nissan Altima. At the same time that the pursuit was taking place, a car being driven by Doris Prudhomme, an 80-year-old woman from Lafayette, and her passenger, 85-year-old Gurvais Matte, was headed south on LA-182 in her Ford Escape.

In the pursuit, Berza crossed over the center divider and slammed into the Ford Escape, causing serious injuries to Prudhomme, who was transported to a local hospital with moderate injuries. Her passenger, Gurvais Matte, was critically injured in the crash and was also transported to Lafayette General Hospital, where he passed away from his injuries on Monday, June 3^rd.

Berza only sustained minor injuries in the case. Police obtained toxicology samples to determine if alcohol or drugs were a factor in this crash; results are pending. This crash remains under investigation.  

We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family, friends, bandmates, and fans of Gurvais Matte at this difficult time. Our thoughts are also with Doris Prudhomme and her family as we hope for her full recovery.

Louisiana State Deadly Car Crashes

Deadly car crashes are sadly a reality in the State of Louisiana and around the country. There were 912 deadly car accidents alone in 2008. These terrible accidents often cause total devastation for the surviving family members who are forced to grieve the tragic loss of someone they loved. This is especially true when your loved one was killed as a result of someone else’s carelessness, recklessness, or negligence. If you have lost someone you love to an accident that was caused by someone else, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit for your loved one’s losses and damages.

Fisher Injury Lawyers has a proven track record of assisting the residents of Louisiana who have been injured in an accident. We want to help our clients focus on rehabilitation after a tragic accident so we handle all of the legal aspects. We have won more than $125 million for our clients in order to fulfill this promise.

Our success rate with all our combined cases is at 98%, meaning that you are in good hands when you work with Fisher Injury Lawyers. Contact us today at 225-766-1234 in order to have a free consultation with one of our experienced Baton Rouge car wreck lawyers.

Note: To write and construct these stories, we utilize a variety of sources, including news bulletins and first-hand accounts of the accidents. As we are not present on the scene, these accounts may not reflect the reality of the situation or the injuries sustained. If you notice any discrepancies between our content and the accident, please inform our office as soon as possible and we will make the necessary corrections.

Disclaimer: Fisher Injury Lawyer is an involved member of our local community, and as such, our intent is always to improve the lives and safety of those in our community. These accidents are a devastating reality of life in our cities and across our state and our hearts go out to all those affected by them. We hope that by casting a light on these accidents, we will encourage others to take more care in their daily lives to avoid these accidents in the future. These posts are not a solicitation for business, and the information included in them should not be construed as legal or medical advice. If you’ve been involved in an accident, you should contact a qualified attorney to discuss the specifics or your case, and we wish the best for all those affected by these accidents.