An Opelousas woman was killed in a single-vehicle crash south of Simmesport on Friday afternoon.
According to State Police, Troopers responded to the crash on LA Hwy 105 around 4:05 p.m. Friday. The crash involved a 2005 Ford truck, driven by 53-year-old Robert A. Dupre of Opelousas. The Ford was traveling northbound on Hwy 105 when Dupre lost control and exited the right side of the roadway. After exiting the roadway, he overcorrected his vehicle and exited the left side, before hitting a culvert and overturning.
A passenger in Dupre's vehicle, 76-year-old Marie E. Bernard, was unrestrained at the time of the crash. She was transported to a local hospital where she was later pronounced deceased.
Dupre was charged with careless operation. Routine toxicology tests are pending and the crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Police would like to take this opportunity to remind/inform motorists that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being injured or killed in a crash. We ask you to take one second to "buckle up!" Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. Not wearing a seat belt remains the leading cause of death in motor vehicle crashes.
Troop E Troopers have investigated 43 fatal crashes in 2019, resulting in 47 fatalities.
