By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LULING — A 39-year-old Luling man died early Thursday morning in a single-vehicle accident on River Road in Luling.

Michael Lauland was driving a 1997 Ford F-150 pickup eastbound near Sugarhouse Road at 4:42 a.m., when for some unknown reason; he lost control of the truck, according to Louisiana State Police spokesman Trooper First Class Joseph Piglia.

The Ford veered briefly onto the levee side of the road and overcompensated to cross the road, strike a shallow ditch and flipped, throwing Lauland from the vehicle, Piglia said.

Lauland was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Charles Parish Coroner’s Office. Excessive speed and driver impairment are suspected as being factors in the crash, the State Police spokesman continued, however, Senior Trooper Eugene Narcisse’s investigation is continuing to investigate the accident.

Traffic remained blocked on River Road, slowing morning commuters, while troopers examined the scene.