Around 2:30 a.m. Saturday, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a single car accident in the 3500 block of Gum Island Rd. in Vinton. The preliminary investigation revealed the driver of the car, Charles L. Bird, IV, 21, Driftwood Rd., Sulphur, appeared to be heading westbound at a high rate of speed when he lost control of the car. The car traveled across the road and ended up in a ditch on the south side of the roadway, hitting a fence and several trees.
The passenger, Cole J. Simon, 20, Mary Ann Dr., Sulphur, was pronounced dead at the scene. Bird was airlifted to a local hospital where he died later that afternoon.
The preliminary investigation reveals both men appeared to be wearing their seatbelts at the time of accident.
The cause of the accident is being investigated. CPSO Sr. Cpl. Chris Ramos is the investigating deputy.
