Coushatta, Louisiana - Jackie Barbo, 67, of Hall Summit, Louisiana, died November 1 following a single-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 788 near U.S. Highway 371 in northwest Louisiana.
Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to the scene at approximately 11 a.m. and began investigating the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.
According to the preliminary investigation, Barbo was driving a 2022 Kia Sorento eastbound on Louisiana Highway 788 when her vehicle left the roadway. The Kia struck a culvert, a drainage structure typically installed beneath roadways, before overturning.
Barbo was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. She sustained fatal injuries in the incident and was pronounced dead at the scene by officials.
Louisiana State Police investigators do not suspect impairment played a role in the crash. However, troopers collected routine toxicology samples from Barbo, which will be submitted to a laboratory for analysis as part of standard protocol in fatal crashes.
The investigation into what caused Barbo's vehicle to exit the roadway remains ongoing.
Louisiana Highway 788 runs through DeSoto Parish in northwest Louisiana, connecting rural communities in the region. The roadway intersects with U.S. Highway 371 near where the crash occurred.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts reduce the risk of death for front-seat passengers by 45% and the risk of serious injury by 50%.