32-Year-Old Louisiana Driver Succumbs to Injuries Sustained in Morning Crash on I-210 Prien Lake Bridge

Lake Charles, Louisiana – A three-car crash on the I-210 Prien Lake Bridge in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, on December 22, 2022, resulted in the death of a 32-year-old  driver from Vinton, Louisiana.

Troopers from LSP Troop D responded to a serious injury crash involving three automobiles on the I-210 Prien Lake Bridge in Calcasieu Parish at approximately 5:15 a.m. on December 22, 2022, according to the Louisiana State Police. Michael Lee Soileau Jr., 32, of Vinton, Louisiana, perished as a result of the collision.

The preliminary inquiry found that Soileau was driving a 2008 Pontiac G6 westbound on I-210. Soileau lost control of the car for unclear reasons and struck the inside concrete barrier. After the initial collision with the concrete barrier, the Pontiac became disabled and obstructed both lanes of traffic. Due to the traffic blockage, the driver of a 2005 Jeep Liberty traveling behind the Pontiac stopped his vehicle. Simultaneously, the driver of a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado going west was unable to stop his vehicle and collided with the left rear of the Jeep and the passenger side of the Pontiac.

Soileau was restrained appropriately and incurred severe injuries. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. Both the Chevrolet and Jeep drivers, who were properly restrained, incurred minor injuries. The three drivers' toxicology samples were collected and submitted for analysis. This incident is still under investigation.

State Troopers in Louisiana urge motorists to always make sound judgments while operating a motor vehicle. Never operate a vehicle while impaired, exhausted, or distracted. Always guarantee that every passenger is properly restrained and observe all traffic regulations. Taking such basic precautions can frequently be the difference between life and death.

So far in 2022, Troop D has investigated 31 fatal collisions resulting in 33 deaths.