Lack of Seatbelt Use and Speed Suspected as Factors in Louisiana Crash that Claimed the Life of a Coushatta Man

Louisiana – A single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 371 in Louisiana resulted in the death of an unrestrained 57-year-old Coushatta man. The crash is under investigation, and speed is believed to have been a factor.

On Friday, December 9, 2022, Louisiana State Police reported that just before 6:00 a.m., troopers assigned to LSP Troop G initiated an investigation into a single-vehicle fatal crash on U.S. Highway 371 just north of LA Highway 531. Paul Born, 57, of Coushatta, Louisiana, was not wearing and seatbelt and died in this collision.

The preliminary investigation found that Born was driving a 2023 Chevrolet Camaro northbound on U.S. Highway 371 at a high rate of speed. Born  Went off the roadway and collided with an embankment for reasons now under investigation. This collision forced the Chevrolet to go into a creek before colliding with a tree.

Born was brought to the Minden Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

This crash is not believed to have been caused by impairment; however, routine toxicological samples were collected and sent for study. The crash is still being investigated.

State Troopers of Louisiana want to encourage motorists to observe all posted speed limits and avoid all distractions. Speeding diminishes a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or obstructions on the road, increases the distance required to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver responds to an emergency. The majority of highway collisions and fatalities are caused by speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors. In addition, while not all collisions are survivable, statistics indicate that wearing a seat belt will significantly minimize your risk of injury or death in a collision. The laws in Louisiana mandate that everyone in a vehicle, regardless of sitting position, must always wear a seatbelt. Wearing a seat belt correctly is one of the most efficient strategies to save your life and lessen your injuries in a collision.

Trooper G has investigated 34 fatal crashes resulting in 37 fatalities so far in 2022.