Rapides Parish – On May 17, 2023, at approximately 6:25 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a two-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 28 West at Belgard Bend. The crash claimed the life of 48-year-old John D. McCabe.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2006 Honda Accord, driven by McCabe, was traveling south on Belgard Bend. For reasons still under investigation, McCabe failed to stop at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 28 West and was struck by an eastbound 2002 Ford F-250.
McCabe, who was not restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and juvenile passenger in the Ford, who were restrained, sustained no injuries. Impairment is a suspected factor in this crash. Routine toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
While not all crashes are survivable, proper use of seat belts can greatly decrease an occupant’s chance of death and may greatly reduce the extent of injury. Always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained can often mean the difference between life and death.
Louisiana State Police would like to remind all motorists that if you feel differently, you drive differently. Alcohol, prescription drugs, and other drugs have many effects on the body that negatively affect driving skills. These drugs can impair visual ability, alter the sense of time and space, impair fine motor skills needed to operate a motor vehicle, and decrease reaction times. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and designate a sober driver. Not doing so can have deadly consequences.
In 2023, Troop E has investigated 21 fatal crashes, resulting in 24 deaths.
Contact Information:
M/T Casey Wallace
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section
Office: (318) 239-0912
casey.wallace@la.gov
