PINE GROVE — One person was killed in a crash in St. Helena Parish overnight on Hwy. 16.
Carey S. Austin, 33, of Independence, died in the crash.
It happened around 2:40 a.m. on Hwy. 16 near Hwy. 449 in St. Helena Parish.
The preliminary investigation shows that Austin was driving a 2008 Ford F-150 west on Hwy 16. For reasons still under investigation, Austin veered off the right side of the roadway before hitting a tree.
Austin, who was not buckled, died on the scene. There was a passenger in the truck as well, who was buckled. That person was critically injured and transported to a local hospital.
A routine toxicology sample was taken from Austin for analysis.
Louisiana State Troopers responded to the scene and shared their sentiments: “Never drive impaired, fatigued, or distracted. Additionally, Louisiana law requires that every person inside a motor vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain properly restrained. While not all crashes are survivable, taking simple precautions like these can often mean the difference between life and death.”
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