Malcoa Perez, 14 months old, was pronounced dead at St. Tammany Parish Hospital shortly after at the 3:21 p.m. accident on Louisiana Highway 25, just south of Louisiana Highway 450, Senior Trooper Louis Calato, State Police Troop L spokesman, said.
The fatal accident, the second in the area this year in which one or more infants died after being ejected, started when the boy’s mother, Christina Perez, 22, of Covington, veered off the roadway while in a left curve.
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She headed into oncoming northbound traffic.
A collision was unavoidable, Calato said.
Gary Williams, 63, of Clinton, plowed his Chrysler 300 into the passenger side of the Saturn. The impact ejected the boy, who was in his child seat but not restrained, Calato said.
“Anytime life is lost it’s something we never want to see,” Calato said. “But to see a baby, it takes away all words. This baby hasn’t even had the chance to live its life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.”
Perez remained in serious condition Monday at Lakeview Regional Medical Center, Calato said. Williams was transported to St. Tammany Parish Hospital for moderate injuries.
Alcohol use is not believed to be a factor in the accident.
As of Monday, Perez was charged with careless operation of a motor vehicle. State Police and the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s office are discussing other possible charges, such as vehicular homicide, Calato said.
Earlier this year, in Tangipahoa Parish on Interstate 12 just outside of St. Tammany, a 1-and 2-year-old died when ejected during a major traffic accident, Calato said.
On Monday, he preached again, like he did after that accident, the importance of wearing a seatbelt.
“We preach it over and over. This is the reason,” he said. “It takes 30 seconds, a minute, for us. But children affect us a little different. A child doesn’t have a say so.”

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Comments
jodee433 wrote on Dec 25, 2008 1:35 AM:
disagree wrote on Dec 24, 2008 2:34 PM:
Jessica wrote on Dec 23, 2008 7:55 PM:
Mommy of 2 wrote on Dec 23, 2008 5:18 PM:
Whats the need for jail she will live with this guilt FOREVER! "
RM wrote on Dec 23, 2008 7:50 AM:
stacey wrote on Dec 23, 2008 12:28 AM:
nicole wrote on Dec 20, 2008 5:47 PM:
Madonna wrote on Dec 20, 2008 11:46 AM:
I agree 100% with this person:
" Charging this greiving mother is not the right course of action. Conducting seat belt checks and issuing large painful fines, or suspensions to those who do not have thier child buckled in correctly is. This woman's life has been changed forever. Pursuit of criminal charges should be focused on real criminals, not greieving parents."
We do not know why the baby was not seat belted in-only the mother does. No individual is perfect - Only GOD is. "
MOM wrote on Dec 19, 2008 4:17 PM:
disagree wrote on Dec 18, 2008 8:04 PM:
GC wrote on Dec 18, 2008 2:56 PM:
spp wrote on Dec 17, 2008 5:52 PM:
She endangered her child. Did she have her seat belt on????? "
R.SIDE wrote on Dec 17, 2008 11:01 AM: