Calcasieu Parish – On May 7, 2022, shortly before 11:00 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop D responded to a crash involving a pedestrian on LA Hwy 3256 (I-10 South Frontage Road) just west of Iowa in Calcasieu Parish. The crash claimed the life of 39-year-old Tonya Morgan Young of Elton.

The preliminary investigation revealed Young, who was wearing dark-colored clothing, was walking in the westbound lane of travel on LA 3256. At the same time, the driver of a 2014 Buick Verano, who was traveling west, struck Young. Young was later struck a second time by an unknown vehicle that was traveling east.

Young sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and passenger of the Buick were not injured. Impairment on the part of the driver of the Buick is not suspected, but a toxicology sample was obtained and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

A majority of pedestrian fatalities, nearly 70 percent, occur at night. Troopers urge pedestrians to maintain a heightened level of awareness while walking near or on roadways. Simple precautions such as wearing reflective materials, avoiding distractions, not walking too close to roadways, and walking against the flow of traffic could prevent most pedestrian related crashes.

Troop D has investigated 6 fatal crashes resulting in 7 deaths in 2022.