Bridge City, Louisiana - On the evening of Tuesday, April 23, 2024, around 11:30 pm, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop B received a report of a single vehicle crash on US 90, between Nine Mile Point Road and Seven Oaks Boulevard. Unfortunately, the crash resulted in the death of Xavier Gonzales, a 44-year-old resident of Slidell, Louisiana.

Initial findings showed that Gonzales was operating a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt heading east on Highway 90 close to Nine Mile Point Road. It is still unclear why the Chevrolet veered off the road to the left and ended up in the grassy median before crashing into a bridge support.

Gonzales, who was not wearing a seatbelt during the crash, sustained fatal injuries and passed away at the scene. Louisiana State Police indicated that it is unclear if he was under the influence of any substances, but samples were taken for testing. The crash is still being looked into.

Troopers want to emphasize to the public that wearing a seatbelt significantly reduces the risk of injury or death in a crash, even though not all crashes can be survived. They also point out that distracted driving remains a major factor in causing crashes in our state. By taking basic safety measures such as wearing seatbelts, obeying traffic laws, and driving at appropriate speeds, we can improve road safety.