Unrestrained Driver Killed in Single-Vehicle Ouachita Parish Crash

TROOP F NEWS RELEASE
September 29, 2024

Calhoun – Earlier this morning, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop F responded to a single-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 151 south of Louisiana Highway 144. The crash claimed the life of 38-year-old Dustin Varnado.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2009 GMC Sierra, driven by Varnado, was traveling south on Louisiana Highway 151. For reasons still under investigation, Varnado’s vehicle left the roadway, collided with a wooden fence, and overturned.

Varnado, who was unrestrained at the time of the crash, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

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 during crashes.

Contact Information:
Trooper Eddie Thomas
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section-Troop G
Office: (318) 741-7411
[email protected]