Slidell, Louisiana - Louisiana State Police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 near LA 433 (Old Spanish Trail) in St. Tammany Parish that claimed the life of a 61-year-old Laplace man and left his passenger in critical condition.
Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop L responded to the incident around 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. The crash involved a 2011 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 2019 Cadillac Escalade, both traveling westbound on I-10 near the LA 433 interchange.
According to the preliminary investigation, 61-year-old Brian Chappell of Laplace was operating the Harley-Davidson in the right lane of westbound I-10. At the same time, the Cadillac Escalade was traveling in the center lane, also westbound, in the same area.
For reasons that remain under investigation, troopers say the Harley-Davidson crossed from the right lane into the center lane and struck the right rear portion of the Cadillac. After the impact, Chappell lost control of the motorcycle, which then ran off the roadway and crashed into a ditch.
Despite wearing a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)-approved helmet, Chappell suffered serious injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger on the motorcycle, who was also wearing a DOT-approved helmet, was transported to a local hospital. That passenger remains in critical condition, according to authorities.
State Police reported that the driver of the Cadillac was properly restrained at the time of the incident and was not injured.
As is standard procedure in fatal and serious-injury crashes, routine toxicology samples were collected from both drivers. Those samples will be analyzed to determine whether impairment was a factor. No findings on toxicology have been released at this time.
Louisiana State Police have not released additional details on factors such as speed, traffic conditions, or weather at the time of the crash. The exact cause remains under active investigation by Troop L.
No charges have been announced, and authorities have not indicated any citations as of the latest information available.
The crash remains under investigation by Louisiana State Police.