Lake Charles, Louisiana - A fatal multi-vehicle crash in Lake Charles on Friday morning left one person dead and a juvenile in critical condition, according to the Lake Charles Police Department.
Officers responded to the crash at 6:26 a.m. on September 5, 2025, in the 1400 block of East McNeese Street. Upon arrival, police discovered that two occupants were unresponsive at the scene.
Dominique Hilliard, 31, of Lake Charles, was pronounced dead at a local hospital after being transported by Acadian Ambulance. Hilliard was driving a 2016 Dodge Challenger when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck another vehicle head-on, police said.
The cause of why Hilliard's vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic remains under investigation by authorities.
Three people total were transported to medical facilities following the crash. The driver of the second vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is listed in stable condition at a local hospital.
A juvenile passenger suffered serious injuries in the collision and was airlifted to a hospital in Baton Rouge, where they remain in critical condition.
The Lake Charles Police Department Traffic Division continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Police are seeking additional information from witnesses or anyone with knowledge about the incident.
Anyone with information about the crash can contact the Lake Charles Police Department at 337-491-1311. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Lake Charles PD mobile application.
The crash occurred during morning hours on East McNeese Street, a major thoroughfare in the Lake Charles area. Traffic investigators are working to determine all contributing factors to the head-on collision.
Police have not released the identities of the surviving victims or provided additional details about the juvenile's condition beyond their critical status.