| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 7910 | 2015-02-10 | Troop L | Troopers Discover Fatal Crash Scene Involving Fleeing Amite Suspect |
TROOP L NEWS RELEASE February 10, 2015 Troopers Discover Fatal Crash Scene Involving Fleeing Amite Suspect St. Helena – Shortly after 3:30 pm this afternoon, Troopers were called to assist the Amite Police Department with a fleeing vehicle traveling west on LA 16 in Tangipahoa Parish. As Troopers were responding to the location, the suspect vehicle, later identified as a 2005 Ford Focus, turned onto LA 1046 continuing westbound at a high rate of speed. Upon turning onto LA 1046, the pursuing Amite Police Department unit lost sight of the Focus and terminated the pursuit. Troopers responded to the area the vehicle was last scene and discovered the Focus had traveled approximately 300 feet off of the paved roadway and crashed into a residence adjacent to the intersection of LA Hwy 1046 and LA Hwy 441 in St. Helena Parish. The driver of the Ford Focus, 30 year old Benjamin Zanders Jr. of Independence, LA, sustained fatal injuries in the crash. Troopers’ preliminary investigation revealed that the crash occurred as the Ford Focus was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on LA 1046. Upon reaching the intersection with LA 441, Zanders failed to stop and traveled across both lanes LA 441 continuing off the roadway striking the support columns of a raised house. Zanders was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Helena Parish Coroner’s Office. Impairment is also suspected to be a factor in the crash pending the results of a toxicology analysis. While the fatal crash and circumstances surrounding Zanders’ actions remain under investigation, Troopers emphasize that the preventable contributing factors of the crash including reckless driving, lack of seat belt use, and driver impairment are seen far too often in the majority of serious injury and fatal crashes investigated across the state. Making the right choice while behind the wheel including never driving while impaired or fatigued and ensuring that all occupants are properly restrained can often mean the difference between life and death.
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