A Hahnville resident convicted of vehicular homicide and four counts of first-degree vehicular negligent injuring was sentenced to eight years in prison on Jan. 27 in St. Charles Parish.

29th District Court Judge Timothy Marcel sentenced Kevin Comardelle, 25, to a 20-year prison sentence with 12 years suspended.  Comardelle is also ordered to attend impairment driving and addiction courses while incarcerated.  He will be on probation for five years following his release and must comply with an alcohol monitoring program.  Comardelle was also fined $2,000 and be subject to restitution to the victims.

Comardelle pleaded guilty on Oct. 31, 2022 to vehicular homicide and four counts of first-degree negligent injuring following a two-vessel boating incident on Bayou Des Allemands on the July 4, 2020.  The incident resulted in significant injury to several passengers and the death of Audrey Higgins, 36, of Luling.

Louisiana Department and Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents were notified of the fatal vessel incident immediately following the collision around 9:26 p.m. on July 4, 2020.

After an extensive investigation, agents determined Comardelle collided with another vessel while driving under the influence.  He was subsequently arrested on Sept. 21, 2020.

A hearing date has been scheduled to determine the monetary value for victim restitution.

The LDWF Enforcement Division served as the lead investigating agency for this case.  Assistant District Attorneys Juan Byrd and William Starr represented the prosecution for the state.