Louisiana State Police Reported 3 Fatal Vehicle Accidents that Involved Unrestrained Occupants Over the July 20 – 21, 2019 Weekend

Over the July 20 – 21, 2019 weekend, Louisiana State Police worked three fatal vehicle accidents that involved unrestrained occupants. 

Louisiana State Police reminds drivers and passengers that buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Failure to take a few seconds to buckle up can have devastating consequences. Louisiana law requires every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, to be properly restrained day or night.

The following are the reports about the three fatal accidents from Louisiana State Police.

July 20, 2019 – Unrestrained Driver Killed in Lincoln Parish Crash

Dubach – At approximately 1:00 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a fatal crash on US Hwy 167 just south of Dubach. This crash took the life of 87-year-old Charles May of Dubach.

The initial investigation by State Police revealed the crash occurred as May was traveling south on US Hwy 167 in a 2006 Buick Lucerne. For reasons unknown, the vehicle traveled off the right side of the road, down a ditch embankment, and rolled over several times. May, who was unrestrained, was ejected.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. A toxicology sample was obtained and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

Louisiana State Police would like to take this opportunity to remind/inform motorists that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being injured or killed in a crash. We ask you to take one second to “buckle up!” Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. Not wearing a seat belt remains the leading cause of death in motor vehicle crashes.

In 2019, Troop F has investigated 23 fatal crashes resulting in 28 deaths.

Contact Information:
M/T Michael Reichardt
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section
Office: (318) 345-2810

July 21, 2019 – Unrestrained Passenger Killed in Claiborne Parish Crash

Claiborne Parish – On July 21, 2019, shortly after 5:00 a.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash on Louisiana Hwy 518, just south of Louisiana Hwy 146. This crash took the life of a Princeton man.

The initial investigation revealed the crash occurred when a 2007 Ford pickup truck, driven by 18-year-old Kara Grimm of Shreveport, traveled off the right side of the road. Grimm overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle. Grimm and her passenger, 23-year-old Sheldon Cruse of Princeton, were ejected from the vehicle.

Grimm received serious injuries in the crash and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Cruse received life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

A toxicology sample was obtained and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Failure to take a few seconds to buckle up can have devastating consequences. Louisiana law requires every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, to be properly restrained day or night.

In 2019, Troop G has investigated 13 fatal crashes resulting in 14 deaths.

Contact Information:
TPR Brent Hardy
Louisiana State Police
Troop G Public Affairs
Office: 318.741.7409

July 21, 2019 – Unrestrained Passenger Killed in Ouachita Parish Crash

Monroe – At approximately 7:00 a.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a fatal crash on LA Hwy 15 just south of Monroe. This crash took the life of 36-year-old Ashley Dixon of Monroe.

The initial investigation by State Police revealed the crash occurred as 35-year-old Christopher Johnson of Monroe was traveling north on LA Hwy 15 in a 2013 Ford Escape. For reasons unknown, the vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and struck ditch embankment, which caused the vehicle to go airborne. After going airborne, the vehicle struck a large tree and came to rest in the ditch. Dixon, an unrestrained passenger, was ejected.

Dixon was pronounced dead at the scene. Johnson, who was also unrestrained, was transported to a local hospital with injuries. A toxicology sample was obtained and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation. There is no further information at this time.

Louisiana State Police would like to take this opportunity to remind/inform motorists that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being injured or killed in a crash. We ask you to take one second to “buckle up!” Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. Not wearing a seat belt remains the leading cause of death in motor vehicle crashes.

In 2019, Troop F has investigated 24 fatal crashes resulting in 29 deaths.

Contact Information:
M/T Michael Reichardt
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section
Office: (318) 345-2810