ZWOLLE – On July 6, 2012, at 1:32 p.m., troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 171 just south of Zwolle in Sabine Parish that claimed the lives of two residents from Noble, Louisiana.

The preliminary investigation revealed a 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer was traveling north on U.S. 171 through heavy rain when the driver, 38-year-old Linda Malmay of Noble, lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle she was driving ran off the road to the right, traveled through a ditch, then overturned in a creek and became partially submerged.

Two passengers in the vehicle, 67-year-old Thomas Malmay of Noble and a 7-year-old juvenile were pronounced dead at the scene.

Linda Malmay and two juvenile passengers in the vehicle received moderate injuries.

Seat belts were not used by any of the occupants.

A routine toxicology sample was obtained from the driver and will be submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.

The majority of fatal and serious injury crashes involve occupants who are not wearing seat belts. Louisiana state law requires vehicle occupants in every seating position to be properly restrained. The simple task of buckling up saves lives. Buckle up Louisiana. Every trip. Every time.