![Thibodaux man found guilty in fatal crash of three teenagers in 2021](https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2176/files/2023/08/clement.png)
A jury needed only six hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict against 39-year-old Joey Clement of Thibodaux for killing three teenagers in a fatal crash in 2021. Lafourche Parish Assistant District Attorney Shaun George says Clement was speeding and driving under the influence…
“Ms. Lily Dufrene, Hali Coss, and Michaila Bowling sadly lost their life because of this man’s awful decision that he made throughout this whole night.”
18-year-olds Hali Coss and Michaela Bowling and 19-year-old Lily Dufrene were killed when Clement crashed his Ford F-150 into their SUV head-on after crossing the center line on Highway 20 north of Thibodaux.
The prosecution argued that Clement’s level of intoxication and high rate of speed were contributing factors that led to the fatal crash. George says when Clement was arrested for his fourth DWI offense after the crash.
“We retained the expertise of toxicology Dr. William George and he put the blood alcohol concentration at the time of the crash at about a point two two. Mr. Clement was severely intoxicated and should have never been behind the wheel.”
Clement was driving between 88 and 93 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour zone.
The three victims’ vehicle was traveling under the speed limit and the driver, Lily Dufrene had no alcohol in her system. George says the girls were out celebrating Dufrene’s 19th birthday.
“They had gone to Copeland’s in Metairie and then went and took some photographs of their new clothes they were wearing that night and they were having a great evening,” said George. “They were coming back to their apartment at Nicholls on Highway 20 and that’s where the incident happened sadly.”
Clement’s sentencing date is scheduled for October 11. He faces up to 95 years in prison.
Comments