| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 3011 | 2017-12-28 | Troop D | Westlake Man Struck and Killed in Calcasieu Parish Last Night |
TROOP D NEWS RELEASE December 28, 2017 Westlake Man Struck and Killed in Calcasieu Parish Last Night WESTLAKE — A man from Westlake is dead after being struck by a vehicle overnight while walking on Louisiana Highway 378 just north of Westlake. On December 28, 2017, at 2:20 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop D responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on LA 378 near John Stine Road in Calcasieu Parish. The initial investigation revealed 67-year-old Mitchell Hill Young of Westlake was struck by a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck as he walked in the left northbound lane of LA 378. Young was pronounced dead at the scene by the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office. Impairment on the part of Young is suspected to be a factor in the crash. At the time of the crash, Young was wearing dark-colored clothing while walking in the lane of travel in violation of state law. The driver of the pickup, 19-year-old Benjamin Coram of DeRidder, was properly restrained and not injured. Coram showed no signs of impairment. Toxicology samples were obtained and will be submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation. A majority of pedestrian fatalities, nearly 70 percent, occur at night. Pedestrians are encouraged to walk facing traffic, use a sidewalk or highway shoulder when available, wear light-colored clothing with reflective materials, and to carry a flashlight at night. Additional pedestrian safety information may be found online at www.walkinginfo.org. In 2017, Troop D has investigated 26 fatal crashes resulting in 35 deaths. Young was the sixth pedestrian to die in a crash investigated by Troop D in Calcasieu Parish this year. Contact Information: | |||
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