St. Martinville Police Chief Announces Driver in Fatal Pedestrian Crash is Relative

In a recent statement, St. Martinville Police Chief Ricky Martin disclosed that the driver involved in the tragic incident where a pedestrian was fatally struck is his niece by marriage, Jade Pourciaux. The incident, which resulted in the untimely death of Mrs. Johnson, has deeply impacted the local community.

Upon learning of his familial connection to the driver, Chief Martin promptly withdrew from any involvement in the investigation. To maintain transparency and prevent potential conflicts of interest, the Chief reached out to both the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana State Police to oversee the inquiry.

The St. Martinville Police Department's official Facebook page posted Chief Martin's statement which highlighted the gravity of the incident, especially given the fact that Pourciaux was reportedly driving under the influence. The post detailed the arrest of Jade Pourciaux on charges of vehicular homicide and DUI, underscoring the professional and thorough nature of the investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.

Both Mayor Jason Willis and Chief Martin expressed their shared distress, emphasizing their ongoing commitment to lead the city constructively. "Anyone that works with me or any employee of mine can tell you from experience, I am a strong believer in the law and our justice system and no one is exempt from that, including my family,” Chief Martin was quoted as saying in the post.

The statement concluded with the Police Department expressing their heartfelt condolences to the family of the victim, reminding the public of the dire consequences of drunk driving.

The community rallied around the post, offering messages of support. "Prayers for all involved. This is true professionalism," one comment read. Another stated, "Condolences to the family at this difficult time," and many simply offered "Prayers."