Gonzales, Louisiana - A Prairieville man died following a motorcycle crash on Louisiana Highway 44 in Ascension Parish on Friday night, according to Louisiana State Police.
Joshua Dunaway, 40, of Prairieville, Louisiana, was pronounced deceased at the scene after his 2024 Suzuki motorcycle struck the rear of a 2024 GMC Sierra shortly after 9:00 p.m. on November 14, 2025.
Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop A responded to the two-vehicle crash on LA 44, just north of Lee Drive. The preliminary investigation revealed Dunaway was traveling north on LA 44 when the Sierra had just completed a right turn from Lee Drive onto the same northbound lanes.
The motorcycle collided with the rear of the truck for reasons still under investigation by state police. Dunaway was wearing a DOT-approved helmet, which is a helmet that meets the safety standards set by the U.S. Department of Transportation, at the time of the crash.
The driver of the GMC Sierra was properly restrained with a seatbelt and did not sustain any injuries in the crash.
Investigators have not yet determined whether impairment played a role in the incident. However, routine toxicology samples were collected from both drivers for laboratory analysis, which is standard procedure in fatal crashes. These test results typically take several weeks to process.
Louisiana State Police continue to investigate the crash. No additional details about the circumstances leading to the collision have been released.
The investigation remains ongoing as troopers work to determine what caused the motorcycle to strike the rear of the pickup truck.