Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Marrero – On April 4, shortly before 9 am, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop B began investigating a fatal crash involving a bicyclist on LA 541 (River Road) near Robinson Avenue in Marrero. The crash claimed the life of 32-year-old Pedro Manzueta of Belle Chasse.

The initial investigation revealed that Manzueta was riding a bicycle east on LA 541 on the right side of the eastbound lane. At the same time, 27-year-old Philemon Lyons-Feemster of Sulphur was driving a 2019 International tractor trailer east on LA 541, behind Manzueta. For reasons still under investigation, Lyons-Feemster began to pass Manzueta around a curve when the right side of the trailer impacted Manzueta knocking him to the ground.

Manzueta, who was wearing a helmet, suffered life threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Lyons-Feemster was uninjured in the crash. While impairment is not suspected, Lyons-Feemster provided a voluntary breath sample which indicated a BAC of .000g%.

Any criminal or traffic violations discovered in the ongoing investigation will be forwarded to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office.

Motorists should remain alert at all times and remember the three-foot rule when passing bicycles. According to Louisiana Revised Statute 32:76.1 B- The operator of a motor vehicle, when overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, shall exercise due care while the motor vehicle is passing the bicycle and shall leave a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet and shall maintain such clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle.  An operator of a motor vehicle may pass a bicycle traveling in the same direction in a no-passing zone only when it is safe to do so. As the slogan says, ‘2 wheels 4 wheels 1 road 4 everyone.’