Published: 12-13-2025 | Category: Troop D
Welsh – On December 12, 2025, shortly after 4:00 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop D responded to a two-vehicle fatal crash on Interstate 10 West about two miles west of Louisiana Highway 99 in Jefferson Davis Parish. The crash claimed the life of 56-year-old Wendell Ayers of Huntington, Texas.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Ayers was driving a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado towing a camper westbound in the left lane of Interstate 10. Prior to the crash, a 2020 Peterbilt had moved from the right lane into the left lane due to an emergency vehicle on the shoulder. For reasons still under investigation, the Chevrolet failed to slow and struck the rear of the Peterbilt.
Ayers, who was unrestrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Peterbilt, who was properly restrained, sustained minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
Impairment is not suspected; however, standard toxicology samples were collected and 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 chances 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 seatbelt is one of the most effective ways to save your life and reduce the risk of injury during a crash.
Contact Information:
Trooper Monique Lavergne
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section – Troop I
Office: 337-262-5880
[email protected]