Acadiana Man Dies in Evangeline Parish Crash

Louisiana State Police Troop I Spokesman Trooper Thomas Gossen tells Kpel that a Eunice man lost control of his car late yesterday afternoon, and he died at an area hospital.

Gossen says at this point, they do not know yet why 21-year-old Deonte Walker lost control of his car. The trooper says they do know that Walker and his passenger were not wearing seat belts.

When Walker crossed the center line of the roadway, his car slammed into an 18-wheeler. Both he and his passenger were taken to the hospital. The passenger was treated and released.

As is standard in severe or fatal crashes, officials run routine toxicology tests on drivers in cases like this. Gossen says the operator of the 18-wheeler did submit to a breath test, and there was no alcohol present. In addition to that, the trooper says the big rig driver displayed no signs of any kind of impairment. The man was also wearing a seat belt when the crash happened, and he was not injured in this fatal crash.

Walker was driving northbound on Louisiana Highway 13 when the crash happened at around 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

Each Tuesday, we interview Trooper Gossen to talk about safety issues. One of the big issues he will frequently address is distracted driving. Gossen says each driver needs to make attention to driving their top priority. He adds it is easy for a driver to become distracted by thinking about issues, trying to eat while driving, trying to put on makeup while driving, etc. Gossen says please be mindful of your driving, and never be on social media while driving. He suggests that if you are feeling tired or distracted then postpone your trip.

The trooper says they are also always looking to make sure the roadways are clear of impaired drivers and anyone who is not wearing a seat belt.

There have been forty-four deaths that have happened in forty crash this year.