Laplace, Louisiana – A two-vehicle crash involving a bicyclist on US 61 in St. John the Baptist Parish resulted in the death of a 61-year-old man on Friday, December 13, 2024. According to Louisiana State Police Troop B, the incident occurred around 7:30 pm near the intersection of US 61 and LA 3188, also known as Belle Terre Boulevard.
Preliminary investigations indicate that a 2016 Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling south on US 61 in the right lane when the cyclist, identified as John Howard of Laplace, Louisiana attempted to cross the highway on his bicycle. For unknown reasons, Howard crossed the northbound lanes and the left southbound lane before entering the right southbound lane, directly in the path of the Ford. The pickup truck struck Howard, causing serious injuries. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The driver of the Ford was properly restrained and uninjured in the crash. Although impairment on the part of the driver was not suspected, a voluntary blood sample was collected for analysis. The results of the blood sample, along with routine toxicology results for Howard, are pending.
Louisiana State Police want to remind bicyclists that, under state law, bicycles are classified as vehicles, requiring cyclists to adhere to the same traffic laws as motorists. This includes obeying traffic signals, using designated bike lanes, and exercising caution when sharing the road with other vehicles.
The incident remains under investigation by Louisiana State Police Troop B.