WEST FELICIANA — Louisiana State Police troopers are investigating a deadly accident involving a tree that fell on top of a vehicle. It happened Sunday afternoon, January 5, 2025.
It was around 3:45 p.m. when Jaime Hernandez, 50, was driving his Jeep down Hwy. 965, which connects Hwy. 10 to Hwy. 61 in West Feliciana Parish. That’s when a tree fell atop his vehicle, forcing him off the roadway. He then hit multiple other trees.
Hernandez, of Zachary, died at the scene. Hernandez was the head chef at the St. Francisville Inn restaurant.
At this time, it’s unclear what caused the tree to fall on top of the vehicle, but high winds were reported in the area on Sunday afternoon. It’s unknown at this time if the high wind is what caused the tree to fall.
Louisiana State Police is leading the investigation.
Troopers say Hernandez was not buckled at the time of the crash. Impairment is unknown, but a toxicology sample was taken, which is standard procedure.
“He was just wonderful”
UWK spoke with spoke with Brandon Branch, owner of the St. Francisville Inn. He said Hernandez had been working at the Inn for around six months after relocating from Baton Rouge but said he’ll remember Hernandez for his passion and dedication.
“He was a really great guy, and so passionate about what he was doing,” Branch said. “And I spoke to his parents this morning, and they said, ‘Finally, he found a place where he was so happy, and he loved working here’, and we loved him. We just gave him free rein to do what he wanted to do.”
Branch also said that Hernandez leaves behind an 18-teen-year-old daughter who lives in Florida.
“She (daughter) had just visited him like a month ago,” Branch said. “He had happiness in his personal life and his private life. He was in a good place. He was just wonderful.”
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I Love your reporting of the news and happening around us !! Thank you for your dedication to do such a great job !! ♥️♥️♥️
I am so sorry to hear of the tragic and freak accident that took Jamie’s life. It’s beyond understanding, a freak accident of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. An accident that is hard to accept. I know, my wife was killed in March of 2024 in a similar accident in East Feliciana when a tree fell on her vehicle as she was driving.
I pray there won’t be additional deaths like Jamie and my wife’s accidents in the future. The heat and drought of 2023 killed many trees along our highways creating thousands of potential accidents in the making. Citizens and parish governments need to press state lawmakers and DOTD to address the thousands of dead trees across our state before another tragic death occurs.
My heart is eternally broken, I don’t want anyone else to endure the pain I feel, as well as what Jamie’s family must feel. My deepest condolences to Jamie’s family and friends.
Lee