Aggrostats

Troopers responded to the crash around 6:50 a.m., which occurred on LA Hwy 6 at Melody Lane. The crash involved a 2004 Chevrolet pickup, driven by a juvenile (W/M 17 yrs) of Many, LA and a pedestrian, identified as Matthew Haggard (W/M 46 yrs). The Chevrolet was westbound on LA Hwy 6 when the juvenile driver lost control and exited the right side of the roadway. After exiting the roadway, the vehicle collided with Haggard, as he was jogging eastbound on the westbound shoulder.

The juvenile driver was wearing his seat belt, but received minor injuries. He was transported to Sabine Medical Center for treatment. He was charged with careless operation.

Haggard was pronounced dead on the scene.

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

Although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, Troopers would like to remind the public of the following: inattentive and distracted driving is dangerous and is a leading cause of crashes in our state. It is important for motorists to pay attention to what is going on outside of the vehicle they are driving. More information on distracted driving may be found online at the federal government’s official distracted driving website, www.distraction.gov.

When walking near a roadway always make yourself visible to drivers by wearing bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials. Pedestrians that are walking at night should try to carry a flashlight for added safety. A person should always walk on a sidewalk, but if there is not a sidewalk available, you should always walk on the shoulder or if no shoulder is available, as close to the roadway edge facing traffic.

In 2018, Troop E has investigated 18 fatal crashes resulting in 18 deaths.

Contact Information:
M/T Daniel “Scott” Moreau
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section – Alexandria Region
Office: (318) 769-9USA (872)
scott.moreau@la.gov
www.lsp.org
facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice
twitter.com/LAStatePolice