By
lee003@latech.edu
Dominique Narcisse, a 17-year-old Tech student from
Narcisse, Brittany Tucker, a
freshman basic and career studies major, Donita
Walker, a visiting student, and Ashley Matthews, a freshman music performance
major, were all passengers in the vehicle.
Chanell Laurent, a freshman
basic and career studies major, was driving the vehicle when she lost control
for an unknown reason, according to a release by Louisiana State Police Troop F
Public Information Officer Julie Lewis.
Laurent tried to regain control, but caused the vehicle
to travel over two lanes of traffic into a ditch.
The vehicle then rolled over twice and ejected Laurent
and Narcisse before it came to a halt.
“We were on our way to a party in Monroe,” Matthews said.
“I don’t remember going that fast, and there were no
distractions when she lost control.”
None of the passengers was wearing a seat belt. Laurent
suffered critical injuries and Walker suffered moderate injuries. Matthews and
Tucker both suffered minor injuries from the accident.
“During the crash, I was trying to hold on and cover my
face,” Matthews said. “I couldn’t believe that [Dominique] died.”
Matthews said Narcisse was fun
to be around and visited them often as all of the passengers lived in Mitchell
Residence Hall.
“She used to always come up to my room,” Matthews said.
“She would crack jokes and give you advice on things,
too. She was really a good friend, and we were getting so close.”
Ashley McLauren, a resident
assistant in Mitchell and a junior accounting major, said she knew Narcisse.
“She was a really nice person and was like a little
sister to me,” McLauren said. “She would always come
to me to make sure that she looked OK because she was particular about her
hair.”
McLauren said she is struggling
to cope with Narcisse’s death.
“We really miss her,” McLauren
said. “Mitchell is like a home to us with an extended family, and it is hard to
deal with her death.”
McLauren said she believed Narcisse enjoyed coming to Tech.
Narcisse recently joined the
Minority Student Organization.
“She was young, and this was her first year at Tech,” McLauren said.
“When I first found out that she died, I stopped
breathing for a second.”
McLauren said she always tells
her friends to be cautious.
“Before they left [Ruston], I told them to be careful no
matter where they go,” McLauren said.
“I tell them every time they go out the door.”
Lindsay Mencacci, president of
the Student Government Association and a senior biology major, said her heart
goes out to the Narcisse family.
“It is always hard to lose a fellow Bulldog,” Mencacci said. “In times like these you truly feel a part
of the Tech family.”