Iberia Parish, Louisiana - On the evening of November 7, 2023, at around 8:30 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop I received a report about a collision involving three vehicles on US Highway 90 heading west near Estis Road in Iberia Parish. Tragically, the crash resulted in the death of Cotura P. Roy, a 52-year-old resident of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

According to the initial findings by State Police, the crash occurred when Roy's 2020 BMW was stopped due to traffic congestion caused by an earlier incident and was struck from behind by a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Bengy Trosclair. This impact then pushed Roy's vehicle into a 2020 Ford F150.

Despite being restrained at the time of the collision, Roy sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner's Office.

The investigation did not indicate any suspicion of impairment in relation to this incident. However, a toxicology sample was taken from Roy for analysis. Both Trosclair and the other driver involved provided breath samples that showed no presence of alcohol and did not display any signs of impairment.

While it is acknowledged that not all accidents can be prevented, adhering to traffic laws, minimizing distractions, and refraining from driving under the influence could significantly reduce such occurrences. When navigating busy roads, it is crucial to maintain a safe speed, avoid tailgating, and consistently scan ahead for at least five seconds in order to respond appropriately to changes in traffic flow.

So far in 2023, Troop I in Louisiana has investigated 45 deadly crashes that led to 50 fatalities.