| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 8649 | 2012-05-25 | Troop L | Slidell Pedestrian killed on Interstate 10 |
| TROOP L NEWS RELEASE May 25th, 2012 Slidell Pedestrian killed on Interstate 10 Slidell, LA – Yesterday evening shortly after 9:00 pm, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop L began investigating a fatal crash on Interstate 10 involving a pedestrian walking along the eastbound lanes. The crash took place near the end of the I-10 eastbound onramp from LA 433/Old Spanish Trail and took the life of the 55 year old pedestrian, Henry Simmons Jr of Slidell, LA. Troopers’ preliminary investigation revealed that prior to the crash Simmons was walking east upon the Interstate 10 acceleration lane leading from the eastbound onramp from LA 433. As Simmons continued walking along the white dashed line of the acceleration lane, he was struck by a 2001 Chevrolet pickup truck traveling east from the onramp. After impact, both Simmons and the Chevrolet came to rest partially across the center and right eastbound lanes of Interstate 10. The driver of the Chevrolet truck, 19 year old Walter Eason III of Slidell, LA, was wearing a seatbelt and received minor injuries in the crash. He submitted to a breath alcohol test showing no detectable signs of alcohol in his system. Simmons was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office. Alcohol use is unknown at this time pending the results of a toxicology analysis. Simmons was wearing dark colored clothing at the time of the crash while walking in a poorly lit portion of the interstate. While nearly 70 percent of all pedestrian fatalities occur at night, Louisiana law prohibits pedestrians from walking upon any interstate highway regardless of lighting and road conditions. Pedestrians walking along a non-interstate highway are required to utilize sidewalks where accessible or walk along the left shoulder as far away from the roadway as possible. Pedestrians should walk against the flow of traffic, wear light colored clothing, and stay out of the travel lanes at all times. Additional pedestrian safety information may be found online at www.walkinginfo.org. Contact Information: TFC Nick Manale Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Unit Office: (985) 893-6250 Ext:628 Nicholas.Manale@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
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