A 21-year-old woman was airlifted to LSU Medical Center following a head-on collision between two ATVs on a recreational ride Saturday, April 16.
Authorities received the medical emergency call at 6:03 p.m. from the Robert Watson home at 227 Layfield Road, where the ride originated, on the Red River/Natchitoches Parish line.
Units from both parishes responded.
Two ATVs, a Yamaha Grizzly 700 owned by Brandon Johnson of Coushatta and operated by Richard Lynn Blanchard, 26, of 257 Mt. Olive Road, Coushatta and a Honda Foreman ES owned by Don Tubbs of Bossier City and operated by Heather Nicole Martin, 21, of 2312 Ashland St., Bossier City were involved in a head-on collision in a remote area.
Blanchard and Martin were traveling in opposite directions and met in a sharp curve on a trail in a wooded area. Heavy dust was a contributing factor.
Red River Sheriff’s units coordinated rescue and notified Life Air Rescue. Fire Dist. 9 in Natchitoches Parish was dispatched to coordinate a landing zone.
Red River EMS transported from the remote location to the landing zone.
Blanchard was taken by private automobile to Christus Coushatta where he was treated for a facial laceration and released.
Martin was kept in ICU at LSU Medical Center for observation due to head trauma and treated for minor lacerations. She was released Monday, April 18.
Both ATVs received major front end damage. No citations were issued.
Reports of a third person injured in the collision were not verified.
Story by the Natchitoches Times : www.natchitochestimes.com
