Girl killed by falling tree during storm Tuesday

A 17-year-old Opelousas girl was killed Tuesday afternoon when a tree fell on her vehicle as she was parked in the driveway of her family’s home on Prayer House Road.
Gabrielle LaJack was pronounced dead at 3:45 p.m., about an hour and a half after the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office received the call about the incident. Deputies and detectives from the department, search and rescue and Acadian Ambulance respond to the scene, and the young lady was declared dead by the St. Landry Parish coroner. The accident occurred as severe thunderstorms through the area that afternoon.
LaJack, daughter of Sonny and Kim LaJack, was to be a senior at Opelousas Catholic School this fall. LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas is in charge of arrangements.
“Our prayers are with the family,” said St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Clay Higgins in a statement.