Impairment and Speed Suspected in Crash on LA 156 that Claimed the Life of a Louisiana Man

Louisiana – Louisiana State Police stated on November 29, 2022, that on Monday, November 28, 2022, shortly before 8:00 p.m., Troopers assigned to LSP Troop E began investigating a one-vehicle fatality crash on LA Hwy 156, just east of Black Jack Road. Curtis Johnson, 33, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, was not wearing a seatbelt and died in this crash.

Police indicated that the initial investigation found that Johnson was driving a 2019 Ford F-150 west on LA Hwy 156 at a high rate of speed. He departed the roadway for unknown reasons, then crossed back over LA Hwy 156 and exited the roadway again, where he struck a tree.

Johnson, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle and died as a result of his injuries. The Natchitoches Parish Coroner pronounced him deceased at the scene.
Authorities indicated that this crash is thought to have been caused by impairment. Routine toxicological samples were collected and analyzed. The crash is still being investigated.

Troopers are repeatedly witnessing avoidable motor vehicle crashes. The leading causes of collisions in Louisiana are impairment and a lack of seat belt use. When drinking alcohol, Louisiana State Police advise people to have a strategy in place that includes a designated driver. Alcohol can impair vision, change one’s sense of time and space, impair fine motor skills, and slow reaction times. After just one drink, alcohol can begin to impair a person’s ability to drive safely. Please choose not to drive or ride with an impaired driver, and always wear a seat belt.

Troop E investigated 51 fatal crashes so far in 2022, resulting in 53 deaths.