Two, neither wearing seat belt, die in area crashes

Two area men died in separate single-vehicle accidents over the weekend, according to State Police, and a third man faces vehicular homicide charges.
Curtis Wheeler, 31, of Church Point and Dustin Cole, 20, of Mamou died when thrown from vehicles. Neither was wearing a seatbelt, troopers said.
According to State Police, Curtis Wheeler was a passenger in a truck driven at high speed by Brad Wheeler, 25, of Church Point when it left Hwy. 35 at about 2:45 a.m. Sunday, struck a culvert and overturned several times, ejecting both men.
Brad Wheeler, whose relationship to the victim was not established by State Police, received critical injuries. State Police said he will be charged with vehicular homicide, reckless operation and no seat belt.
Alcohol is suspected as a factor in the crash.
Cole was driving a pickup on La. 478 east of Ville Platte about 2:30 p.m. Saturday when it left the road in a curve and rolled over.
State Police suspect alcohol was a factor in the crash.