Slidell man dies in wreck Saturday

By Erik Sanzenbach
St. Tammany News
Published on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 9:35 AM CDT

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A Slidell man died early Saturday morning when his motorcycle collided with a car on Gause Boulevard, according to Slidell police.

Around 7 a.m. Oct. 4, police were called to the 1943 Gause Blvd. and found Weston J. Burnside, 47, lying dead in the street with massive head injuries.

The police have arrested and charged William D. Gunnels, 70, 3517 W. Meadowlake Drive, Slidell with negligent homicide and failure to yield.

According to the police department’s Fatality Crash Investigation Unit, the accident occurred as Gunnels was leaving the Chase Bank parking lot on Gause Boulevard. Burnside was traveling east in the right lane on Gause on his 2001 Suzuki GZ250. At first Gunnels did not see the approaching motorcycle, then stopped when he realized Burnside did not have enough room to stop. Burnside tried to stop his bike, laying it on its side and sliding it toward Gunnels’ vehicle. Burnside was thrown from the bike, and he slid into the Nissan’s left front bumper head first, killing him instantly.

Police said Burnside was wearing a helmet approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The motorcycle continued sliding east and stopped in the left lane of Gause Boulevard.

Investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were causes for the accident. Police had to close Gause Boulevard for two and half hours during the investigation but allowed eastbound traffic to use the center turning lane so there was no traffic delays, according to police.

Gunnels was booked in Slidell, then transported to the St. Tammany Parish Jail.

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