Saturday, August 14, 1999

A Shreveport woman was killed at about 12:10 p.m. today when she drove into the path of a Vivian Police Department patrol car that was transporting a juvenile to Johnny Gray Jones Youth Shelter.

Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Dale Hubbard, who witnessed the accident, said Laverne Nugent Jones, 72, of 1061 Davidson, was making a left turn from McDaniel Drive into the northbound lane of North Market Street. Her 1986 Oldsmobile crossed the southbound lanes directly in the path of the 1992 Ford Taurus patrol car driven by 22-year-old Vivian Police Officer Michael Ramage. The impact caused the Oldsmobile to spin and roll over, coming to rest on its top.

Caddo Parish Deputy Coroner Vicki Foster pronounced Jones dead at the scene. Ramage and the 15-year-old Vivian boy he was transporting were taken by ambulance to LSU Medical Center. The Juvenile was treated and released to other Vivian police officers. Ramage was taken by family request to Willis-Knighton Medical Center. He was listed in fair condition before leaving LSUMC.

In the accident, the Oldsmobile made slight contact with a northbound 1999 Nissan Maxima driven by Wesley F. Tucker, 44, of Natchitoches. Neither Tucker nor his passenger were injured and the car received only minor damage.