Unrestrained Louisiana Man Dies in Single-Vehicle Crash After Running Off the Roadway on LA 686

Louisiana – According to Louisiana State Police, Troopers from LSP Troop I were notified of a single-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 686 near Lynn Robin Road in St. Landry Parish shortly before 6:30 a.m. on July 7, 2022. Franklin Joseph Martin, 42, of Arnaudville, Louisiana, was killed in the accident.

The initial investigation by State Police revealed that Martin was driving a 2017 Toyota Corolla west on LA 686 when the crash occurred. The Corolla ran off the road to the right for unknown reasons, colliding with an embankment and a culvert before coming to rest partially submerged. Martin was not properly restrained at the time of the crash, according to Louisiana State Police, and was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Landry Parish Coroner’s Office. A toxicology sample was obtained for analysis, and the crash is still being investigated.

Louisiana State Troopers would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists that the difference between good and fatal outcomes on Louisiana highways starts and ends with good decisions. The most effective good decisions begin with a “always” mindset: always designate a sober driver, always focus on the task of driving, and always wear a seat belt regardless of seating position. While not all car accidents are avoidable, simple precautions like these can often mean the difference between life and death.

Troop I investigated 23 fatal crashes so far in 2022, resulting in 26 deaths.