The Terrebonne Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council established the Lindsey Robert Fontenot Memorial Scholarship at Nicholls State University in honor of a Gray resident who was killed in an accident as a result of a drunk driver on July 2, 2010.
According to The Houma Courier, toxicology reports on the drivers of two cars in a fatal crash in July showed that Robert Short, 24 of Gibson, was more than two times over the legal limit for alcohol and died in the accident.
Raymond Bourg, 21 of Houma, and passenger Lindsey Fontenot, 25 of Gray, were also pronounced dead at the scene, State Police Troop C said at the time.
Short and Bourg collided just before 2:30 a.m. on July 2 at La. 24 on the Rod Bridge. Witnesses told troopers that Short was driving south in a 1998 Ford Expedition, and Bourg was driving a 2007 Toyota Tacoma with Fontenot riding in the passenger seat. Fontenot was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle upon impact.
Bourg tested negative for alcohol and drugs.
According to The Houma Courier, the police report said that Bourg’s truck was in the left lane while Short was in the right lane. Both were going more than 50 mph. When Short attempted to change lanes, his left rear bumper hit Bourg’s right front quarter panel, causing Bourg’s pickup to veer off the left side of the road and hit two trees.
Short’s Ford also veered off the left side of the road, rotating counterclockwise and eventually backing up into a house.
According to police interviews, Bourg and Fontenot were at Last Call in Thibodaux before the wreck. Short was allegedly at Beady’s Club in Thibodaux.
David Boudreaux, vice president of institutional advancement, said that the parents of the young men went to the ADAC to raise money for a scholarship to honor them.
“The scholarship has been advertised, and the check has been deposited,” Boudreaux said.
Applications were due on Sept. 2.
With an initial donation of $1,000 from ADAC, the scholarship will be awarded with a payment of $500 per semester to one recipient. The scholarship will be awarded to a resident of Terrebonne or Lafourche parish who will perform 10 hours of service learning or community service with ADAC per semester. The student must be enrolled full-time at Nicholls with a junior classification, 2.0 GPA or above and have demonstrated a need for financial assistance. The student’s major must have the possibility to lead to advocacy against drinking and driving, including but not limited to education, nursing, allied health and sociology.
According to an article in The Daily Comet, the parents said that the fact that their children’s lives were cut short is a reason for young people and parents to take responsibility for themselves and for others who might be impaired.
Roy Bourg, father of Raymond Bourg, said in The Daily Comet article that he sees more people taking action against drunk driving than in the past.
