Vehicle homicide true bill in teacher death

An Avoyelles Parish Grand Jury has found a true bill in a vehicular homicide case from 2023 on Hwy. 107 which resulted in the death of two people.
In February, the Grand Jury found a true bill against Tiffany Renz, 34 of Jena, in a December 1, 2023 accident that led to the eventual death of Sarah Bordelon of Marksville, a longtime educator in the public and parochial school systems in Avoyelles Parish, as well as the death of her brother, Thomas Whittington of Melville.
DEC. 1 ACCIDENT
On Dec. 1, at approximately 9 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a three-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 107 at Louisiana Highway 107/115. The crash claimed the life of 85-year-old Thomas Whittington.
The initial investigation revealed a 2013 Honda CRV, driven by 34-year-old Tiffany Renz of Jena, was southbound on Louisiana Highway 107. For reasons still under investigation, Renz side-swiped a 2012 Chevrolet pickup truck stopped at the intersection. After this initial impact,
Renz continued into the northbound lane of travel and struck a northbound 2007 Honda CRV.
Renz, who was restrained, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The driver of the Chevrolet, who also was restrained, sustained no injuries. The driver and two additional passengers in the 2007 Honda CRV, who also were restrained, sustained injuries and were transported to a local hospital.
Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and submitted for analysis.
Later that afternoon, Troop E was notified that Whittington, one of the passengers in the 2007 Honda CRV, had succumbed to his injuries.
According to the Avoyelles Parish Coroner’s Office, a second passenger, Sarah Bordelon, age 71 of Marksville, also succumbed to her injuries from the crash while still in an Alexandria hospital on Wednesday, December 6.
TRUE BILL FINDINGS
According to District Attorney Charles Riddle, the two counts of vehiculart homicide was rendered in the death of both individuals.
“Vehicular homicide means the individual was under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” he said.
Along with the vehicular homicide charges, Renz also had true bills found on Possession of Schedule I CDS and drug paraphernalia, DWI and Careless Opeartion. All charges stem from the December accident.
No further information on the case has been released at this time.