Troopers Investigate Two Separate Fatality Crashes

Published: 06-13-2020 | Category: Troop A

Within the span of three hours, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop A investigated two separate fatal crashes in the Troop A area.

Bueche - The first crash occurred shortly before 10:00 pm on June 12, 2020, on LA Hwy 983 (Bueche Rd.) south of LA Hwy 985 in West Baton Rouge Parish. The crash claimed the life of 53-year-old Michael Walker of Plaquemine.

The initial investigation revealed the crash occurred as Walker was traveling southbound on LA Hwy 983 in a 1992 Ford F-150. For reasons still under investigation, the Ford ran off the roadway to the right. After exiting the roadway, the Ford re-entered the southbound lane of travel and subsequently exited the roadway to the left and overturned.

Walker was unrestrained at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle. He sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Impairment is suspected, and a toxicology sample was obtained from Walker for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

Baton Rouge - The second crash occurred shortly after 1:00 am on June 13, 2020, on LA Hwy 42 (Burbank Dr.) north of LA Hwy 327 (Gardere Ln.) in East Baton Rouge Parish. The crash claimed the life of 19-year-old Brennan Butler of Baton Rouge.

The initial investigation revealed the crash occurred as Butler was traveling eastbound on LA Hwy 42 in a 2019 Toyota RAV4. For unknown reasons, Butler passed another eastbound vehicle on the right shoulder of LA Hwy 42 and subsequently ran off the roadway to the right. After exiting the roadway, the Toyota entered a ditch and struck a culvert.

Butler was properly restrained; however, sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced deceased on the scene. Impairment is unknown at this time, but a toxicology sample was taken from Butler for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

The difficult assignment of death notification continues to be one of the hardest elements of the Law Enforcement profession. Notification is even more difficult when Troopers know that the outcome was preventable. As summer quickly approaches, please take a moment to put the safety of you and your loved ones ahead of everything else. Aside from sound decisions behind the wheel, speak to your family and friends about the consequences of impaired driving. Remind them that putting on a seatbelt greatly reduces the chances of being killed or seriously injured in a crash. Speak to them about the dangers of distracted driving. The conversation you have today could be the difference tomorrow.

Contact Information:
TFC Taylor J. Scrantz
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section
Office: (225) 754-8524
taylor.scrantz@la.gov