Extracted from The Alexandria Daily Town Talk (Alexandria, LA)
4 LaSalle Residents Killed in 2-Vehicle Collision
JENA -- Four LaSalle Parish residents, returning home from a rock concert in Shreveport, were were [sic] killed in a traffic accident at 11:50 p.m. Friday, state police said.
The victims were identified as Bradley Van Gustafson, 17, of Jena; Thomas David “Bullet” Ratcliff, 22, of Route 1, Trout; Theresa Ann Ford, 17, of Nebo; and Zelma Ann Vinson, 19, of the Midway community.
The accident happened on U.S. Highway 71 about 4 1/2 miles north of Coushatta in Red River Parish.
Troopers said the four were traveling south in a 1978 Oldsmobile, Ratcliff was driving.
The car crossed the center line into the path of a tractor-trailer rig. The 18-wheeler pulled to the shoulder but the car crashed into the side of it, police reported.
Miss Vinson worked at the Jaycees headquarters in Jena. She was a Baptist, a lifelong resident of the Midway community and a graduate of Jena High School.
Survivors include her stepfather and mother, Cecil and Polly Vinson Duncan of Midway; a brother, Mickey Vinson of Jena; a sister, Gay Whatley of Trout; and her paternal grandmother, Janice Vinson of Trout.
Services will be 2 p.m. today in Searcy Baptist Church, Trout, with the Rev. Gary Norris and the Rev. K.G. Brooks officiating. Burial will be in Thomas Cemetery of Trout, under direction [of] Kinner and Stevens.
Pallbearers will be David C. Smith, Clifton Smith, Paul M. Smith, David Earl Roberts, Ronald Bohannon and Bobby Gustafson.
Ratcliff was a machinist at Dresser Industries.
Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. O.J. Ratcliff of Trout; a brother, Julian Ratcliff of Trout; two sisters, Patricia Kay McEntyre and Debora Lynn Hopkins, both of Jena; and his paternal grandfather the Rev. T.J. Ratcliff of Jena.
Services will be at 3 p.m. today in the chapel of Kinner and Stevens with the Revs. Bill Robertson and Wayne Ainsworth officiaiting [sic officiating]. Burial will be in Belah Cemetery, Trout.
Gustafson was a member of Nolley Memorial United Methodist Church and the Nolley Noteables.
Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gustafson of Jena; a brother, Robert Barry Gustafson of Jena; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Payne of Wichita, Kan.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Nolley Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. James Adams officating. Burial will be in Stromsburg, Neb. Friends may call at Kinner and Stevens.
Miss Ford's survivors include her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Collins of Nebo; three brothers, James Capps and Clint Collins, both of Nebo, and Jackie Ford of Aimwell; and her paternal grandmother Nellie Ford of Aimwell; her maternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Rachel of Nebo; and her step paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Collins of Nebo.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today in the chapel of Hixson Bros., Jena, with the Revs. J.C. Vanover and Everett Mayo officiating. Burial will be in Ford Cemetery.
Sunday, December 2, 1979