On July 22, 2026, an Entergy Louisiana construction crew was on Highway 89 in X Parish installing and framing a pole for a new home. It was a typical midday job — until the quiet was broken by a sudden, violent crash.
Around 1 p.m., the crew heard the screech of metal from down the road. Without hesitation, they moved toward the sound where they found an overturned vehicle in a ditch and calls for help echoing farther down the highway. Their training, teamwork and safety-first mindset immediately took over.
Journeyman Andrew Latiolais was one of the first to run toward the scene. “My thoughts were getting someone to call 911 and coming up with a safe plan to get the person out of the car that was upside down,” he said.
As the crew assisted the driver of the overturned car, Journeyman Zachary Guillory concentrated on providing critical information to first responders. “One of the main things that ran through my mind was finding landmarks, road names, houses — anything that would help police and EMS get there fast,” he explained. “Ensuring the safety of the people in the vehicle as well as the guys from my crew is what kept me focused.”
Journeyman Kesler Decuir also sprang into action. “I ran back to get a big bucket truck to block the road until EMS arrived.” He added that Entergy’s training played a major role: “Knowing our location and how to perform CPR and use the AED — you don’t always think about it until a situation like that happens.”
Just moments later, the crew rushed to the second vehicle involved in the crash, where they found an unconscious driver in a badly damaged pickup. Journeyman Adam Williber recalled the emotional impact of that moment. “Seeing a vehicle overturned in the ditch made my heart drop because we were expecting the worst,” he said. “We worked together to get the door open, and when the unconscious driver came to, we kept him calm and monitored his condition.”
Williber added that the experience reinforced the importance of safety culture. “Our training took over. Everyone stayed calm, communicated well and knew exactly what needed to be done.”
Journeyman Brock Lanclos focused on keeping the drivers calm until EMS arrived. “I was pretty calm,” he said. “I was just worried about getting to the vehicle and making sure everyone was alright and if we could get them out safely. I stayed communicating with the driver, asking questions to keep them calm.”
Throughout the emergency, one theme stood out: safety preparedness. Their emergency action plan, proper PPE, first aid training, clear communication and instinctive teamwork allowed them to respond quickly and confidently. As Guillory noted, “Being accurate with the emergency action plan and making sure everyone knows their role makes us prepared for a situation like this when it’s least expected.”
Each member expressed deep pride in how the crew responded. Lanclos summed it up simply: “The thing I am most proud of is how quickly we responded as a team. We never had to tell each other what to do. We just responded together.”
Thanks to the quick thinking and coordinated efforts of Andrew Latiolais, Zach Guillory, Adam Williber, Brock Lanclos and Kesler Decuir, both drivers received critical assistance in the first moments after the crash.
Their actions reflect the commitment and courage Entergy crews bring not just to their work, but to the communities they serve every day.
