Vernon Parish, Louisiana – At around 6:30 a.m. on April 8, 2024, Louisiana State Police Troop E arrived at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 489 in the LaCamp, Louisiana area. Unfortunately, this incident resulted in the death of Michael Wellman, a 42-year-old resident of Hicks, Louisiana.

The first examination showed that a 2016 Nissan Frontier, being driven by Wellman, was heading south on Louisiana Highway 489. It is still being looked into why Wellman was unable to navigate a right-hand curve. This led to the vehicle veering off the road, going down the ditch’s slope, hitting a culvert and a tree, and ultimately flipping over.

Wellman, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered fatal injuries and was declared dead at the crash site. It is not believed that impairment played a role in the crash. Samples for routine toxicology testing were taken and will be analyzed. The cause of the crash is still being investigated.

Although not every crash can be survived, wearing seat belts correctly can significantly lower the likelihood of death and minimize the severity of injuries. Making sure that every person in the vehicle is properly restrained can often be the deciding factor between surviving or not.

So far in 2024, Troop E Troopers have investigated 19 deadly crashes that led to 21 deaths.