St. Landry – On September 7, 2022 at approximately 4:30 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop I was notified of a single-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 103 at the intersection of Church Road in St. Landry Parish. The crash claimed the life of 59-year-old Philip Gilyard of Leonville.

The initial investigation revealed Gilyard was driving a 1997 Ford F150 north on LA 103 when, for unknown reasons, he failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of Church Road. He continued through the intersection and into Bayou Teche. After the crash, he was able to use his cell phone to call for help. Upon arrival, emergency crews located his body in the water away from his fully submerged vehicle.

Gilyard was properly restrained at the time of the crash. His body was recovered with assistance from the St. Landry Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Recovery Task Force. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the St. Landry Parish Coroner’s Office. A blood sample from Gilyard was submitted for analysis.

While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, distracted driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in our state. Additional information on distracted driving may be found online at www.distraction.gov.

Troop I has investigated 34 fatal crashes resulting in 40 deaths in 2022