Port Sulphur, Louisiana – A 72-year-old North Carolina man lost his life in a bicycle-vehicle crash on a Louisiana highway Monday afternoon, according to state police.
Kenneth Oshell of Cornelius, North Carolina, was riding his bicycle southbound on Louisiana Highway 23 near Fosters Road in Plaquemines Parish when the incident occurred around 5:10 p.m. on March 31, 2025. Louisiana State Police Troop B reported that Oshell was struck by a 2018 Ford F-150 pickup truck that was traveling in the same lane.
Despite taking safety precautions, including wearing bright clothing and having a blinking strobe light on his bicycle, Oshell suffered serious injuries in the collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Ford F-150, who has not been identified, was properly restrained and emerged from the crash uninjured. As part of standard procedure in fatal crashes, authorities obtained a toxicology sample from the driver.
The circumstances leading to the collision are still under investigation.
In their report, troopers emphasized that Louisiana roads are shared spaces, accommodating various types of vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. State law requires motorists to give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing. Additionally, bicycles are legally classified as vehicles in Louisiana, meaning cyclists must follow the same traffic regulations as motorists.
The investigation into this fatal crash continues as authorities work to determine all contributing factors.