Louisiana State Police News V1

LSP Article Full View

Source: http://lsp.org/news_detail.html?id=3957

id cleanReleaseDate troopName title
3957 2015-02-13 Troop E Speed and Lack of Seat Belt Factors in Fatal Crash


TROOP E NEWS RELEASE

February 13, 2015
Speed and Lack of Seat Belt Factors in Fatal Crash

Rapides Parish – Early this morning, a crash involving two vehicles killed a man from Deville, LA. He was not wearing his seat belt and was traveling at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred.

Troopers responded to the crash around 6:15 a.m., which occurred on LA Hwy 28 East near LA Hwy 116. The crash involved a 2011 Mazda MZ3, driven by Devin Alexander Burks (W/M 20 yrs) of Deville and a 1998 Freightliner (18 wheeler), driven by Robert Stephen Paul (W/M 31 yrs) of Pineville. The Mazda was westbound on LA Hwy 28 East, at a high rate of speed, when it collided with the rear of the westbound Freightliner. After the collision, the Mazda exited the left side of the roadway and the Freightliner came to rest on the shoulder.

Burks was pronounced dead on the scene.

Paul was wearing his seat belt and was not injured.

Routine toxicology tests are pending. The crash remains under investigation.

Louisiana State Police would like to take this opportunity to remind/inform motorists that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being injured or killed in a crash. We ask you to take one second to “buckle up!”

Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a situation. Speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors are among the leading causes of highway crashes and fatalities.

Troop E Troopers have investigated three fatal crashes in 2015, resulting in six fatalities.

Contact Information:
M/T Daniel “Scott” Moreau
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section – Troop E
Office: (318) 769-9USA (872)
scott.moreau@la.gov
www.LSP.org
www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice
No attachments for this article.