Livingston Parish, Louisiana – Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop A were called to the scene of a collision involving multiple vehicles on January 24, 2024, around 8:30 pm. Tragically, the crash resulted in the death of Edward Barker, a 53-year-old resident of Hammond, Louisiana.

According to the initial investigation, a 55-year-old man named Rodney Thompson was driving an eastbound 2017 Ram pickup truck on I-12. At the same time, Barker was also driving east on I-12 behind the Ram in a 2017 Dodge Challenger.

For reasons that are still being investigated, Thompson lost control of his vehicle and veered off the left side of the road, entering the median. The Ram then returned to the eastbound lanes and was hit by the Dodge. As a result of this impact, the Dodge spun across the eastbound lanes and was struck by a 2015 Freightliner tractor-trailer that was also traveling east.

Barker sustained severe injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Although it is unclear if any impairment was involved, samples were collected from all drivers for standard toxicology tests, which will be examined. The investigation into this crash is still ongoing.

Troopers want to reinforce the significance of practicing safe driving habits and following traffic regulations. Although not all crashes are survivable, data shows that wearing seat belts correctly greatly decreases the chances of being harmed or killed in a collision. It is mandatory by Louisiana law for everyone in a vehicle, regardless of where they are seated, to consistently wear seat belts. Wearing your seat belt properly is a highly effective method to protect your life and lessen the severity of injuries in a crash.