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Baton Rouge Man Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Homicide Following Ascension Parish Fatal Crash

          On May 28, 2019, John Henderson of 2638 Vanderbuilt Dr. Baton Rouge, LA., age 28, pled guilty as charged to Vehicular Homicide. Henderson was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Phil Maples, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert. This guilty plea follows a 2018 fatal crash which claimed the life of 2-year-old Malashia Tumblin.

          On September 15, 2018, troopers with Louisiana State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of LA 70 and LA 3120 in Donaldsonville. The investigation conducted by troopers revealed that John Henderson was driving a 1999 Dodge pickup truck eastbound on LA 3120 approaching LA 70 when he failed to stop at the stop sign near the intersection. As Henderson proceeded through the intersection, a second vehicle being a 2019 GMC pickup truck struck the driver side of Henderson’s vehicle. At the time of the crash, Henderson’s vehicle was occupied by 4 other passengers. One adult along with three children were all transported to area hospitals. Upon arrival to the hospital, Malashia Tumblin ultimately succumbed to her injuries. The second vehicle was occupied by three individuals who were treated for minor injuries. Henderson who was unrestrained at the time of the crash and sustained minor injuries, showed obvious signs of impairment and was transported to the Ascension Parish Detention Center where he submitted to a chemical breath test. Henderson’s blood alcohol concentration registered at .103g%. Henderson was subsequently booked on multiple charges including vehicular homicide.

          Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charge, sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Sentencing is tentatively set for August 26, 2019. Henderson faces up to 30 years in state prison.