*UPDATE* Unrestrained Driver Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash in East Feliciana Parish

TROOP A NEWS RELEASE
June 2, 2024

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as 47-year-old Damon K. Bernard of Port Allen. Furthermore, the vehicle involved in the fatal crash was a 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck, and not the previously listed Dodge.
Initial Release 6/1/2024

Slaughter – Shortly after 10:00 p.m. on May 31, 2024, Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop A responded to a single-vehicle crash on LA 958 just south of LA 959 in East Feliciana Parish. The crash resulted in a fatality and the identity of the driver is being withheld pending proper identification and notification to the next of kin.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2005 Dodge pickup truck was traveling northbound on LA 958, just south of LA 959. For reasons still under investigation, the Dodge exited the roadway to the left, entered a ditch and struck a culvert.
The driver of the vehicle, who was unrestrained at the time of the crash, was partially ejected, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. While impairment is unknown, standard toxicology samples will be taken and submitted for analysis.

While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being severely injured or killed in a crash. Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. Properly wearing your seat belt is one of the most effective ways to save your life and reduce injuries in crashes.

Contact Information:
Trooper Shelby Mayfield
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section – Troop A
Phone: (225) 921-1384
[email protected]