Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
Monday, November 5, 1956

Three Killed In Head-On Crash Near Jonesville

JONESVILLE, Nov. 5 (Special) -- Three persons were killed and eight others injured in a two-car collision two and one-half miles west of Jonesville on highway 84 Saturday night.

The dead were identified as Wayne LaCroix, 31, of Wildsville, who was in one auto, and Lewis Loyd, 35, and Aussie W. Webb, 29, both Jena Negroes, who were the only occupants of the other car.

Catahoula parish authorities said the LaCroix automobile was traveling east from Walters to Jonesville and was going around a sharp curve when it was met by the Negroes' car, which was being driven on the wrong side of the highway. The two cars collided head-on. The Negroes were said to have been in Jonesville for several hours and had apparently been drinking a great deal.

The eight injured persons were all occupants of the LaCroix automobile.

They were identified as Mrs. Margie Lee LaCroix, wife of Wayne LaCroix, who reportedly suffered a fractured pelvis, dislocated right hip, dislocated left elbow, and a double break of the lower left leg, and their six-month-old daughter, Aleda Jean LaCroix, who received a compound skull fracture; Mrs. J. B. Sanson, who suffered two large lacerations of the forehead and multiple bruises; Dorothy Jean Sanson, who received severe bruises of the mouth and nose and a possible skull fracture; and Bernard Sanson, who possibly may have a skull fracture. They were given emergency treatment at the Passman Clinic in Jonesville and then transported to the Natchez General Hospital.

The other three injured who remained in the Passman Clinic, are three Sanson boys, Luther Joe, Norman David, and Charley, who received comparatively minor injuries in the form of multiple bruises.

According to a Monday morning report on the injured victims in the Natchez hospital, they were still considered in serious condition, having shown little change since Sunday.

LaCroix was a resident of Wildsville, having been a lifelong resident of Catahoula and Concordia parishes.

He was a veteran of World War II, a member of the Evangeline Baptist Church of Wildsville, and was employed at the Armstrong Tire and Rubber Co. in Natchez.

Funeral services were held at 10 a. m. Monday at the Evangeline Baptist Church, with the Rev. DeVere Sanson and the Rev. Harvey McClure officiating. Interment was in the New Jena cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Marjorie Sanson LaCroix of Wildsville, four children, Linda Faye, Larry Wayne, James Everett, and Leta Jean; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James F. LaCroix, of Wildsville; two brothers, Lloyd B. and James C., both of Wildsville; one sister, Mrs. Mitchell Trisler, of Mayna, La.; and a host of neices [sic nieces] and nephews.

Acting pallbearers were Fay Sanson, Elwood Sanson, J. P. Sanson, Clyde LaCroix, C. B. LaCroix and Mitchell Trisler.