Unrestrained Pineville Woman Killed in Crash

TROOP E NEWS RELEASE

August 21, 2024

Rapides Parish – Earlier today, at approximately 1:15 p.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on I-49 south of LA Hwy 121. The crash claimed the life of 48-year-old Christy N. Johnson.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2018 Buick SUV, driven by Johnson, was traveling southbound on I-49 in the outside lane. For reasons still under investigation, the Buick collided with a 2019 Chevrolet pickup that was stopped in the outside lane due to traffic congestion from a prior crash.

Johnson was transported to a local hospital and was later pronounced dead. The driver of the Chevrolet was properly restrained, sustained minor injuries, and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Routine toxicology tests are pending. The crash remains under investigation.

Louisiana State Police would like to take this opportunity to remind motorists that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being injured or killed in a crash. Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remains buckled up. Not wearing a seat belt remains the leading cause of death in motor vehicle crashes.

Although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, Troopers would like to stress the importance of avoiding inattentive and distracted driving to prevent future crashes. It is important for motorists to pay attention to what is going on outside of the vehicle they are driving. More information on distracted driving may be found online at nhtsa.gov.