Iberia Parish, Louisiana – Two unrestrained occupants were killed in an early morning Louisiana crash on LA 182 in Iberia Parish.
On August 7, 2023, just before 3:00 a.m., a single-vehicle crash was reported to Louisiana State Police Troop I. The incident occurred on Louisiana Highway 182, close to LSU Bridge Road in the region of Jeanerette, Louisiana. The crash tragically resulted in the deaths of Robert Curry, 51, from Jeanerette, Louisiana, and Randall Benedietto, 50, from Morgan City, Louisiana.
An early evaluation of the situation by state authorities showed that Curry and Benedietto were riding in a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 pickup truck, which was traveling at a high rate of speed going westbound on LA 182. The Chevrolet veered off the road to the right, hit a culvert, and flipped over. The reason for the crash is still under investigation.
Both Curry and Benedietto were both unrestrained at the time of the crash and were thrown from the vehicle and declared dead at the scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. The investigation is still ongoing to figure out who was behind the wheel at the time of the crash. The Chevrolet, involved in the incident, was registered under Benedietto’s name.
A toxicology test was carried out on both individuals involved for examination. The investigation of this accident continues.
The Louisiana State Police encourages drivers to reduce their speed, ensure they are wearing seatbelts, and minimize distractions while on the road. The severity of a car accident is indifferent to your identity or the type of car you drive. Driving at high speeds significantly heightens the chances of severe injury or possible death, and failing to wear a seatbelt further magnifies this risk. The cited accident could have been avoided; it wasn’t necessary. It’s essential to remember that your decisions at the wheel impact others who are counting on you.
In 2023, Troop I conducted investigations into 31 deadly accidents which led to the loss of 36 lives.