COVINGTON, La. — Judge Ellen Creel sentenced 27-year-old Bogalusa native Charles Dyson on Monday to 15 years in prison immediately after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide and other related charges in a 2023 drunk driving crash that claimed two lives and injured two more – leaving one paralyzed from the neck down.
According to 22nd JDC District Attorney Collin Sims, Dyson was sentenced to 10 years on the vehicular homicide charge that stemmed from one of his two passengers being ejected from his vehicle and killed, and five years for third-degree feticide charge in the death of an unborn child. The mother of that unborn child was eight months pregnant when her vehicle was struck by Dyson.
Dyson suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.
The incident occurred at approximately 1 a.m. on July 23rd of last year in the 600 block of Columbia Street in Bogalusa. The investigation revealed that Dyson's vehicle crossed the center line on Columbia and struck the oncoming vehicle head-on.
Dyson and all of his passengers were ejected from his vehicle, with one sustaining fatal injuries and the other left paralyzed.
According to police, officers noted Dyson had slurred speech and presented a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage while receiving medical treatment at the hospital. Medical records showed Dyson had a blood alcohol content of 0.12 percent. Toxicology analysis results revealed Dyson also had both an active and inactive metabolite of THC in his blood system, consistent with Dyson having used marijuana prior to the accident.
Louisiana State Police assisted Bogalusa PD with the investigation and state troopers were able to retrieve computer data from Dyson’s vehicle. The data revealed Dyson was driving at a speed in excess of 117 MPH at the moment of impact.
Following the sentencing, the mother of the deceased victim and the woman who lost her unborn child gave statements. According to DA Sims, they said they were relieved justice was being served and they would try to move on with their lives.
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