Jason Melerine sentenced to 18 years in prison in vehicle deaths of Beth Bria, Jason Crain

Jason Melerine, who was convicted on two counts of vehicular homicide and one of DWI in April, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison on each count, according to Rick Wood, spokesman for District Attorney Walter Reed. Melerine must serve the first three years without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Beth Bria and Jason Crain

Melerine’s imprisonment came as a result of the deaths of 18-year-old Beth Bria and 23-year-old Jason Crain, both of Angie, in an early morning crash on a rural Washington Parish highway in June of last year. Bria, a student at Varnado High School at the time, and Crain were engaged to be married on Oct. 8, 2010.

22nd Judicial District Judge William Crain sentenced Melerine Monday and set the penalties to run concurrently. In addition, Melerne was fined $10,000 and will be required to undergo the Blue Waters substance abuse program and to also complete his GED while imprisoned. Melerne could have been sentenced to up to 30 years on each count of vehicular homicide.

Melerine was 18 at the time of the crash, which occurred about 4:50 a.m. on Sunday, June 30, 2010. Law enforcement officials said the crash occurred on Louisiana 424, north of Pine (which runs from Pine through Thomas and to the Mississippi line) as Melerne was southbound in a pickup.

Reports indicated Melerine failed to maneuver a curve, causing the pickup to cross the center line. At that point, as the vehicle entered the northbound lane, Malerine steered sharply to the right, causing it to rotate clockwise and run off the road to the right. The pickup continued to rotate as it left the roadway and struck several trees before coming to a stop.

Neither Bria nor Crain were wearing seatbelts and both were pronounced dead at the scene. Melerine, who was also not wearing a seatbelt, was not injured. He submitted to a breath alcohol test and registered over the legal limit. In addition to the first offense DWI and two homicide charges, he was also charged with no seatbelt and careless operation.

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Bogalusa man indicted for vehicular homicide after second offense DWI crash kills passenger

Mitchell Wayne Polkey

COVINGTON — Bogalusa resident Mitchell Wayne Polkey, 25, was indicted Tuesday by a St. Tammany Parish Grand Jury on vehicular homicide charges in connection with a May 5, 2011 vehicle crash in Mandeville that took the life of his 84-year-old passenger.

If convicted in the death of Carl Edward Harrell, also of Bogalusa, Polkey could face a prison term of between five and 30 years.

The crash involving Polkey happened on May 5 in Mandeville, where police say Polkey was driving a Chevrolet pickup on the U.S. 190 Frontage Road near Banner Ford about 9:30 p.m. when he apparently lost control on a curve. The truck left the roadway and hit several trees head-on.

Harrell was not wearing a seat belt and suffered severe trauma when he struck his head on the windshield, police said. He was taken to St. Tammany Parish Hospital for treatment but later died.

Polkey was also not wearing a seat belt, but was not seriously injured. He was taken to a local hospital for mandatory blood testing following a fatal accident and was intoxicated.

At the time, Polkey was charged with Harrell's death, a second-offense DWI, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and driving without a seat belt.

According to Harrell’s online obituary at a Bogalusa funeral home he was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, the Grand Lodge of the State of Louisiana Free and Accepted Masons, Washington Parish Shrine Club, and had the Gold Certificate of Proficiency Carl E. Harrell PM Center Lodge 244 F&AM. He was also a U.S. Army veteran and a member of Magic City American Legion Post 24.