One man was killed and another seriously injured after the vehicle they were in ran off the road and struck a tree.
The accident happened Monday afternoon on Interstate 10 Westbound near La. 397 in Calcasieu Parish.
State Police Troop D says the preliminary investigation revealed a passenger car was traveling west on I-10 when the driver lost control of the vehicle during a heavy rainstorm. The vehicle ran off the right side of the road and struck a tree.
The front seat passenger in the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene by the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office. The driver was seriously injured and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. A passenger in the back seat received minor injuries.
The fatality has been identified as Gregory D. Franklin, 56, of Lake Charles.The driver, a 53-year-old Lake Charles man, remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
Excessive speed for prevailing weather conditions is suspected to be a factor in the crash. A routine toxicology sample was obtained from the driver and will be submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway. Speeding also extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle and can lead to a more serious collision in cases where the vehicle strikes another object. Troopers encourage motorists to observe the speed limit and to drive at a speed that is safe for prevailing road and weather conditions.
Troop D has investigated 17 fatal crashes resulting in 17 deaths in 2018.
