The corpse was found Thursday and so was the wooden box, but the casket never has been found. I hollered to the towboat, Throw me two life preservers. Then I jumped in." They had no roads, no doctors, and no electricity, but had managed to carve out cohesive and self-reliant communities. Price With 20% Increase. Thanks so much for making this information available. We didn't see the bus go into the water, but we heard screaming and hollering, recalled Jackie Church, 19 years old. Until 1999, tolls were collected from traffic going in each direction. With the I-10 Twin Span Bridge severely damaged, the causeway was used as a major route for recovery teams staying in lands to the north to get into New Orleans. The toll changed from $3.00 with cash and $2.00 with a toll tag to $5.00 with cash and $3.00 with a toll tag. Example video title will go here for this video. Depending on where you are on the bridge and the traffic at the time of an accident, it can take a significant time for the police or paramedics to reach you while on the Pontchartrain Bridge. With the help of her guide, she made it safety off the bridge although she called it the longest five miles of your life.". into Lake Pontchartrainand if this sparks your interest, you can get to know the lake more intimately during the annual Beach Sweep from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 21. Nice start to May, rain possible this weekend, He got a Fitness tracker to get in shape; it sent him to the doctor and may have saved his life, CSU forecasts slightly below-average Atlantic hurricane season. With Tag. La. Hi Phil, Would your relatives happen to be victims of this horrible teagedy, I believe Alma and Elva were my moms aunts!!!! You can watch nature at its finest., A post shared by A. Altazan (@aaltazan) on Aug 20, 2019 at 8:30pm PDT. Cvitanovich's report says 22-year-old Nathalie . This was my mothers Aunt. However, in 1964 there was a tragic incident in which two barges crashed into the bridge and caused a collapse of the roadway, sending a large motorcoach bus into the waters below where six victims did not survive. The day proved to be lots of fun as all six continued to hold hands and walk together in the water. The modern causeway started to take form in 1948 when Ernest M. Lob Jr. envisioned the project. Land cant be seen by drivers who are crossing the middle 8 miles of thebridge, making this one of the scariest bridges in the U.S. Police who patrolthe bridge have reported having to rescue anxious drivers who becomescared while crossing the bridge and literally stop their cars on the middle ofthe roadway. The longer of the twin bridges over Lake Pontchartrain is 23.83 miles long. Louisiana's Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest bridge over water in the world. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. New York Citys Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world. For National Estuaries Week, get to know the estuarine system that supports 2.1 million people. Tucked awayon the southeasternpart of Louisiana, the causeway is an absolute must-drive when you visit New Orleans. The Maestri Bridge (originally known as the Pontchartrain Bridge and later as the Watson-Williams Pontchartrain Bridge and the Five Mile Bridge) carries U.S. Route 11 (US 11) across Lake Pontchartrain between New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana, in the United States.The 4.78-mile (7.69 km) bridge was the longest concrete bridge in the world upon completion. The latest of those incidents occurred Nov. 23, claiming the life of 38-year-old David Zapot of Lacombe. The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California stretches three miles long and is a mile wide. He declined to provide specifics about the methods of stepped-up enforcement but said, "Officers are all over the bridge.". The bridge might spark concern not just to drivers who fear bridges, but also those who have a fear of water. The southern terminus of the causeway is in Metairie, Louisiana, a south shore suburb of New Orleans. A pick-up truck is fully submerged in brackish waters after being driven into Lake Pontchartrain at around 11:40 a.m. Thursday, New Orleans police say. 30 11 59.2 N. 90 07 21.7 W. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge. Whether by design, location, or wear and tear, many Louisiana bridges create risks to those who travel on them each day. Six passengers died in 15 feet of water. A lawyer for you can help you with the negotiations with an insurance company for a claim for damages and help advise you as to when and if a lawsuit could be necessary in your case. This is not for the feint of heart. The enhanced enforcement follows three accidents this year, including two last month, in which vehicles plunged off the southbound span. What are the other names and dates on the tombstone? Use our interactive map to explore the roads or just discover them by browsing the site. The fault segment which offsets the Hwy 11 bridge at North Shore dips southward toward the fishing village of Irish Bayou and probably intersects basement near the location of maximum observed intensity at Irish Bayou. Lake Pontchartrain (/ p n t t r e n / PON-ch-trayn) is an estuary located in southeastern Louisiana in the United States. Alphonsine is my great Grandma Gloria (still alive) mother. Skin divers pulled the other bodies from the submersed bus. Finally,a special thanks to Phil Gagnet for submitting the grave photo to us. It was built to withstand 100 mile-per-hour winds and even earthquakes. METAIRIE, La. In a similar accident Aug. 1, 1974, on the nearby 24milelong Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, a barge knocked out three 80foot sections of the flat portion of the roadway, killing three people. I showed her this article just before she went to church, Im sure she will include Lucille in her prayers, she was very pleased that I found this article. Hi Im Jane Badon, this is my grandparents tomb. several of the victims. Mr. Church and a companion, Bernard E. Gautreau, 42, were first at the scene. Back when Brown was alive at the turn of the 20th century, the towns of Ruddock, Frenier, and Napton were prosperous settlements clustered on the edge of Lake Pontchartrain, sustained by logging the centuries-old cypress trees and farming cabbages in the thick black soil. We just received a comment from Dorian Celestain (please read) who states she is the g-granddaughter of Alphonsine Gagnet, another surviving sister of this family. You must try to exit your vehicle as quickly as possible by whatever means possible and swim to safety if you can or stay afloat as you await rescue. dangerousroads.org is not responsible for the information contained in these pages. Your email address will not be published. Fortunately, these three would survive and live to recount the story of what happened that dreadful day. In the morning, there is often a thick fog. Unfortunately, yes. But, may the time never again present itself when dredging will be permitted near the shore, and no signal or warning in view to guide those who go swimming for recreation.. "Enforcement has really been ratcheted up," bridge General Manager Carlton Dufrechou said Wednesday (Dec. 3). The bridge, located outside Anchorage, is designed to withstand quakes. Collect the Evidence You Can at the Scene. A post shared by PrettyHairBham (@prettyhairbham) on Jul 6, 2019 at 8:43am PDT, There arent a lot of deep spots, Trail said. I heard that he was in the military and they changed his name from Gagnet to Gagnier, which he never corrected. My name is Louis Gagnier III, Louis Gagnet was my grandfather. Jefferson Parish Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich identified the woman whose body was found on Monday in Lake Pontchartrain near Metairie. Dufrechou suggested that motorists not count on a few miles-per-hour cushion between the 65 mph limit and the point at which police will pull them over. Lucille Doublets nephew Claude Doublet of Mobile is a U.S. Air Force veteran retired MFD FIREFIGHTER.Claude is now in his early 80s and is the widower of Bernice Hickman, my wifes cousin and a descendant of the Creole family Colin which was changed by the British to Collins. Watch:Chihuahua Leads Cops on a 'High-Speed Pursuit' Across Bridge, Veteran Aviator and Student Pilot He Helped Land After She Lost Her Nose Gear Take to the Skies Together, Oklahoma Man Charged After Allegedly Covering Up the Murder of the Woman His Wife Was Having an Affair With, Texas Man Continued His Date After Cops Say He Fatally Shot Someone Over $40, Autistic Artist Sebastian Franco Hopes to See Northern Lights as He Contemplates Going Completely Blind, Lori Vallow Daybell's Sister: 'You Expect Me to Just Keep Believing Without Ever Having a Question?'. With the assistance of an attorney, you will be able to seek compensation for any losses you incur after the accident such as medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and damages to your vehicle. While there are restrictions on the size and weight of vehicles able to travel along the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, many semis and tractor-trailers are eligible to use this route. Beach Sweep from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 21. Hi all, Tolls were reinstated by mid-October of that year. NEW ORLEANS . The 23.87 mile long bridge spans 1/1000th of the earth's circumference on its course between Metairie and Mandeville. Thirteen vehicles have gone over the side of the southbound bridge since 1994, according to bridge statistics. Are there Other Unsafe Louisiana Bridges? Siblings Elva, Alma and Louis Gagnet lived at 1018 North Derbigny while Roy Ennemore was at 1021 North Derbigny. With the distinction as one of the longest bridges in the world and the longest in the country, the Pontchartrain Bridge attracts many visitors that want to experience the drive. Stay close enough to the vehicle in front of you to see its taillights, but dont follow too closely. Negroes had gathered for miles around to attend the funeral of Aunt Julia Brown, an old negress who was well known in that section, and was a big property owner. And if shes still in the swamp, you have less to fear from her than from the alligators. This is definitely one of the worst days youre going to experience, the official told her. [10] In 2017, the toll was raised to fund safety improvements on the bridge. Read:Is This The Scariest Bridge In America? The storm surge was not as high under the causeway as it was near the I-10 Twin Span Bridge, and damage was mostly limited to the turnarounds. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, New Orleans. If you've been injured in a car accident, call a New Orleans personal injury attorney at (504) 564-7342 to discuss your case. From 1969 until 2011, it was listed by Guinness World Records as the longest bridge over water in the world; in 2011, in response to the opening of the longer Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China, Guinness World Records created two categories for bridges over water: continuous and aggregate lengths over water. Feb. 25, 1990 12 AM PT. In February, IE was there when a bridge official took motorist Renee Tschirhart across to safety all while in a blizzard. When it was confirmed on Monday morning, 8 June 1931, that six young friends from the Treme neighborhood had drowned the day before in the waters of Lake Pontchartrain; hundreds of relatives, friends and neighbors crowded into the homes of the deceased to comfort their families. Today, thanks to a strong belief in those values of compassion, respect, and approachability, the firm has grown to employ over 120 legal professionals in numerous offices across 4 states, with nationwide reach. They earn their keep by filtering water. Even sharks come to the lake to have babies in the summer and head back to the Gulf of Mexico after the babies grow up., A post shared by Lake Pontchartrain Basin Found (@l.p.b.f) on Jul 30, 2018 at 10:05am PDT, (The estuarine system) starts in East Feliciana parish and goes to Plaquemines, Trail said. From 1969 until 2011, it was listed byGuinness World Recordsas thelongest bridge over water in the world.Pic: Richard Palmisano. "Voodoo isnt as much about curses as it is about healing," she says. Maintenance Crews are in the roadway inspecting the Causeway - Southbound. Authorities have not publically confirmed if Clarke was the woman that jumped from the bridge. [8], On June 16, 1964, six people died when barges tore a gap in the bridge and a bus plunged into the lake. On a clear day with no hazardous weather conditions or traffic jams, you can cross the 24-mile bridge in just 25 minutes. Speeding can be deadly on this 24-mile bridge when unforeseen circumstances can cause the need to come to a halt or avoid an obstacle in the road. Even though the bridge is registered as a historical landmark, its hair-raising size and subjectivity to weather can be a danger for pedestrians as well. It is not uncommon for rescue personnel to receive distress calls to the scene of an incident on the bridge where a driver is unable to proceed driving across the bridge due to fear of the bridge and its length. After I visited the swamp earlier this year and heard Julia Brown's story, I got curious about separating fact from fiction. Sources: Times- Picayune 8 June 1931 p.1; Times-Picayune 9 June 1931 p.20; New Orleans Item 8 June, 1931 p.7; Louisiana Weekly 13 June 1931 p. 1&4; Photo of Labeaud tomb (courtesy of Phil Gagnet). Enter your email address to have CreoleGen sent directly to you, cher! Notice: It seems you have Javascript disabled in your Browser. A special thanks to Jane Gillardoni Badon for bringing this story to my attention and for the oral historyshe provided on her uncle, George Labeaud, who was one of the sixvictims. Louisianas Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest bridge over water in the world. What makes the bridge so deceptive is when the fog and mist mix on the drivers windshield it creates tough driving conditions and poor visibility. Hi Louis-your grandfather was my grandmothers brother. Maxentius, Roman Emperor, drowned in the Tiber during the chaos of the Battle of the Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312. Willie Labeaud and Eva Labeaud. The New Orleans Police Department says around 11:40 a.m., a pickup truck drove into the lake. Mabel Soublet Labeaud was my mothers sister. Lake Pontchartrain is a vast brackish-water lake with an area of 631 square miles. Read:Woman Celebrates After Conquering Her Fear of Bridges. On Nov. 3,a man died after a garbage truck plowed into a work crew on the bridge, sending a construction vehicle and its driver into the lake about 4 miles from the north shore. Louis Gagnier III, Hey Im Dorian Celestain. In building the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge, which took just fourteen months, assembly-line, mass-production methods were utilized for the first time in the construction of a bridge. Due to the intimidating size of the bridge, it is paralyzing to some drivers who want to go across. It has become has become synonymous with suicide due to the number of people who have plunged to their deaths from the bridge. New Orleans, LA. Its a great day to raise awareness about the impact of marine debris and educate folks about where their stormwater goes, said Kristi Trail, executive director of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (LPBF). Eleven people have died in the accidents. Alma and Elva were his sisters. In June 2013, the bridge had to be evacuated after it was damaged by flames. The weather can get so terrifying on Michigans Mackinac Bridge and the lanes are so narrow that the bridge authority offers to help drive overwhelmed motorists across. Due to the increase in travel across the one-lane bridge, it became increasingly clear that another span was necessary to keep up with the growing traffic and demand. It was built in 1912 and was remodeled in the early 80s. But even those who don't slight at heights might think twice about crossing these terrifying bridges. For further understanding on this topic please read the following two articles on this blog: Summertime at Seabrook (1928-1945) January 19, 2013 + On Segregated Shores: The Story of Lincoln Beach (1938-1964) January 19, 2013. Not sure if the same one, but would be interesting if it was. Lucille Doublet was my distant cousin, the daughter of Anthony Doublet and Emily Adams (A. C. Adams Jr. and Sophie Pedesclaux). Visitors to the spot still claim they hear footsteps and see apparitions. Dufrechou would not say how many tickets were issued during the four days, but said officers normally write about 1,000 citations per month. They also buried Alma with them. It is not difficult to see why having an emergency on the Pontchartrain Causeway can be a cause for concern. Stormwater that drains into storm drains goes into Lake Pontchartrain, and that water isnt treated or filteredit goes directly from drain to lake, Trail said. Theyre part of the food chain that brings in bigger fish like redfish and tarpon, as well as manatees, otters, and a healthy population of bald eagles, pelicans, and ospreys., A post shared by @mavkie on Aug 16, 2019 at 2:50pm PDT, Estuaries are nurseriesa lot of marine life comes to the warm, shallow water for a safe place to have babies, Trail said. He lost control of his SUV on the downslope of the drawbridge hump about 8 miles from the north shore before hitting the bridge railing, overturning and plunging into the lake, authorities said. Within a day or two, crowds would return to the same homes to view the bodies of the victims and to attend church services being held at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church on St. Philip Street. Think they may be part of my genealogy. Despite its scary reputation, the Mackinac Bridge is actually one of the safest bridges in the country and offers incredible views. $3.00. Once your car comes to a stop after a collision on a bridge, make sure you quickly observe where you are and what is around you. Milton Labeaud was my mothers (Alice Soublet Mathieu) brother-in-law. For many years, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, also known as the Lake Pontchartrain Bridge, held the title of the longest bridge in the world over water.