Published: 11-06-2025 | Category: Troop G
DeSoto Parish – On November 5, 2025, at approximately 4:30 a.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 49 near Louisiana Highway 177. The crash claimed the life of 50-year-old Lawrence Irchirl of Natchitoches.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a pickup truck and a tractor-trailer traveling north on Interstate 49 during reported dense fog conditions were involved in a crash, resulting in the tractor-trailer overturning on the roadway. For reasons still under investigation, this crash subsequently began a series of additional crashes in the northbound lane of Interstate 49. Moments later, a 2002 Ford F-350, driven by Irchirl, approached the location of the crash and collided with an 18-wheeler parked on the roadway and occupied by another motorist.
Irchirl, who was properly restrained at the time of the crash, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The other drivers involved were properly restrained, with several sustaining minor injuries and receiving treatment at the scene. Impairment is not suspected; however, toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers wish to remind motorists that visibility is significantly reduced when driving in dense fog and low-light conditions. During these times, reducing your speed, avoiding distractions, and maintaining a safe following distance is imperative. While not all crashes are survivable, taking these simple precautions can mean the difference between life and death.
Contact Information:
Trooper Eddie Thomas
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section-Troop G
Office: (318) 741-7411
[email protected]