On December 15, the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Kevin Tate, 36, for vehicular homicide.  Tate, a resident of J.S. King Road north of Franklinton, is charged in the death of his 85 year old grandfather, Denman Tate, who also lived on the same road.

 According to investigating deputies, Tate and his grandfather were riding in the  same vehicle when they began to argue.  Kevin Tate pulled to the side of the road on Highway 438 near Warnerton.  Both men exited the vehicle and argued and struggled on the side of the road.  Kevin Tate then fled in his vehicle, striking his grandfather with the vehicle as he drove away.  A passing motorist saw the elderly man in distress and called the Sheriff’s Office. 

 When deputies and medical personnel arrived on the scene, they found the elderly man bleeding from a  head injury.  He was treated on the scene and transported to Riverside Medical Center in Franklinton and then on to North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond.  He died shortly thereafter.

 Kevin Tate returned to the scene and was arrested.  He was charged with vehicular homicide, negligent vehicular injuring and driving while intoxicated.  He remains in the Washington Parish Jail and no bond has been set at this time.

 Sheriff Randy Seal expressed his regrets over the death of the elderly man.  “This is a particularly troubling matter and I extend my deepest sympathy to the Tate family.  I appreciate our deputies so much and am grateful for their quick response to aid the elder Mr. Tate and to get Kevin Tate in jail.”