| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 3075 | 2014-11-06 | Troop D | Speeding Unrestrained Man Dies in Allen Parish Crash |
TROOP D NEWS RELEASE November 6, 2014 Speeding Unrestrained Man Dies in Allen Parish Crash Excessive speed, worn tires, and failure to wear a seatbelt are suspected factors that contributed to the death of a man from Oberlin this morning after crashing his vehicle in Allen Parish. On November 6, 2014, at 6:04 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop D responded to a single-vehicle crash on Garcille Road about 2 miles north of Oberlin. The preliminary investigation revealed that a 1995 Dodge pickup truck was traveling south on Garcille Road when the vehicle, driven by 45-year-old John Wesley Bell of Oberlin, traveled off the road, struck a culvert, and overturned. Bell, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was partially ejected. The truck he was driving then rolled on top of him. Bell was pronounced dead at the scene by the Allen Parish Coroner’s Office. A toxicology sample was obtained from Bell and will be submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation. Seat belt use is lowest among drivers of pickup trucks. Many pickup truck drivers fail to recognize the importance of wearing a seat belt. Louisiana law requires vehicle occupants to be restrained in all seating positions, day and night. Wearing a seat belt on every trip, whether it’s short or long, is the most effective thing motorists can do to protect themselves in the event of a crash. Motorists are encouraged to always make the smart choice and to wear their seatbelt properly. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway. Speeding also extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle and can lead to a more serious collision in cases where the vehicle strikes another object. Troopers encourage motorists to observe the speed limit and to drive at a speed that is safe for the prevailing road and weather conditions. Troop D has investigated 15 fatal crashes resulting in 15 fatalities this year. This is the second crash-related death in Allen Parish this month. | |||
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