Nederland City Clerk killed in crash: "She was a constant positive light"
Published: Sat, 11/05/22
Nederland City Clerk killed in crash: "She was a constant positive light"
Gay Ferguson
by KFDM/Fox 4
NEDERLAND — The Nederland community and many others in Southeast Texas are mourning the death of City Clerk Gay Ferguson, killed in a head-on crash caused by another driver in Louisiana. Her 3-year-old grandson was injured.
Louisiana State Police say the driver of a pickup truck went thru the median on I-10 East near the Lacassine exit and vaulted over the cable barriers at about 6:45 p.m. Friday in Jefferson Davis Parish. The pickup ended up in the westbound lanes and struck Ferguson's SUV head-on. She died at the scene. Her 3-year-old grandson was injured and hospitalized. Nederland City Manager Chris Duque tells KFDM/Fox 4 the toddler will survive.
Duque sent a statement on behalf of the City of Nederland:
"The City is deeply saddened by the passing of City Clerk Gay Ferguson on Friday, November 4, 2022. Mrs. Ferguson dedicated much of her life to public service, serving the City of Orange before joining the City of Nederland in 2010. Mrs. Ferguson cared deeply about Nederland, the mid-county area, her family and her friends. She considered every city employee as her friend and part of her family. Mrs. Ferguson was an exceptional public servant and an outstanding colleague. She was respected and loved by her peers. She was a constant, positive light and will be greatly missed. The City's thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends."
LOUISIANA STATE POLICE - On November 4, 2022, shortly after 6:45 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop D responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 10 near the Lacassine exit (LA Hwy 101) in Jefferson Davis Parish. The crash claimed the life of 61-year-old Gay Dale Ferguson of Orange, Texas.
The initial investigation revealed a 2011 Ford F150 pickup truck, driven by 28-year-old Caleb Lee Bowers of Jennings, was traveling east on I-10. For unknown reasons, Bowers lost control of the vehicle and traveled off the left side of the roadway. After leaving the roadway, the F150 traveled through the median and vaulted over the cable barriers before entering the westbound lanes of travel. At the same time, a 2018 Ford Edge SUV, driven by Ferguson, was traveling west on I-10 and was struck head-on by the F-150.
Ferguson sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. The 3-year-old toddler in the SUV sustained serious injuries and was transported to a Lake Charles area hospital for treatment.
Bowers was transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
While the exact cause of this crash remains under investigation, inattentive/distracted driving continues to be a leading factor in fatal crashes in our state. More information on distracted driving may be found online at www.distraction.gov.
Troop D has investigated 24 fatal crashes resulting in 26 deaths in 2022.