Frosty’s Restaurant, a Ville Platte landmark since 1960, was damaged when a vehicle drove through the front of the business early Friday morning.
According to the crash report obtained from the Ville Platte Police Department, officers “observed an S.U.V. type vehicle smashed into the side of Frosty’s Restaurant and a truck with a man standing beside it.”
The officers made contact with the man who stated he witnessed the crash. As the witness was providing the officers with a written statement, the officers “were looking around the scene to possibly find footprints of any evidence where the occupants (of the vehicle) went,” according to the crash report.
The resident of the house located behind the restaurant came forward. She told the officers she heard a loud bang and noticed two females getting into a white car that drove away from the scene.
While the resident continued to give her statement to the officers, the white car returned.
The crash report stated, “The passenger exited the vehicle and stated she was the owner of the vehicle.”
According to the crash report, the owner of the vehicle was identified as Lacy H. Soileau, who resides on Tom Drive in Ville Platte.
Soileau, at that time, denied if she was driving the vehicle and was advised of her rights before refusing to answer any more questions.
State Police was then called to assist in the matter. While waiting for a trooper, another vehicle arrived on scene which was exited by a female who admitted she was the driver of the vehicle.
The second female was identified as Crystal Johnson Vidrine of Mamou.
Vidrine was then advised of her rights and again told officers she was the driver of the vehicle.
According to the crash report, “She stated she was driving her friend home when she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the front of the building.”
When Vidrine was asked if she had been drinking, she stated she no longer wished to answer questions. She was then detained and kept separate from Soileau.
The officers were then advised a trooper was not in the area and that they would not be able to prove the females were intoxicated before leaving the scene even though a beer can was found on the driver side floorboard of the vehicle.
After learning it would also be difficult to prove who was driving, officers released both females
The crash remains under investigation.
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Staff Report