By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – A Missouri man traveling through St. John Parish Saturday suffered fatal injuries when he was ejected from his vehicle after it swerved off the road, according to Louisiana State Police.

William S. Cottle, 20, of Troy Mo., was driving northbound on Airline Highway, just west of Louisiana 54 in Garyville, in a 2008 Chevrolet pick up truck around 5 a.m. Saturday when his vehicle suddenly veered left for an unknown reason, entered the median and hit an embankment, said Trooper Joseph Piglia, public affairs official for State Police.

Piglia said Cottle, who was not restrained by a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle after the truck went airborne and flipped over. Cottle was pronounced dead on the scene from injuries sustained in the crash.

Piglia said authorities are continuing their investigation and are awaiting the results of a toxicology exam to determine whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident. Cottle was the only passenger in the vehicle.