DeRidder, Louisiana – A single-vehicle crash on Christmas night claimed the life of a DeRidder resident on Louisiana Highway 1147, according to Louisiana State Police Troop D investigators.
Scott Earl Thigpen, 55, of DeRidder, Louisiana was traveling northbound in a 2004 Toyota Tundra when the incident occurred shortly before 11:00 p.m. near Charles Graham Road in Beauregard Parish. Preliminary investigations reveal that Thigpen’s vehicle failed to navigate a left-hand curve, veered off the roadway to the right, and collided with a tree.
State Police officials reported that Thigpen was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. He sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by local authorities.
The investigation remains active as officers work to determine the factors that contributed to the crash. As part of standard protocol, toxicology samples were collected and submitted to the state laboratory for analysis to determine if impairment played a role in the incident.
Louisiana State Police continue to emphasize the importance of wearing seat belts, noting that they are a critical safety measure that can significantly reduce the risk of fatal injuries in vehicle crashes.