Acadia Parish – On August 28, 2021, shortly after 11:00 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop I was notified of a two-vehicle fatality crash on Louisiana Highway 13 at Louisiana Highway 92 (E. Whitney St.) in Acadia Parish. The crash claimed the life of 53-year-old Isidro A. Padilla of Kaplan.

The initial investigation by State Police revealed a 2005 Lexus passenger car was headed west on LA 92 when the driver, Joseph M. Francis IV of Lafayette, failed to yield at the stop sign. Francis’ vehicle struck the side of a 2004 GMC Yukon which was headed north on LA 13. After the vehicles made contact, the Yukon flipped on its side. Padilla, who was a rear seat passenger in the Yukon, was partially ejected.

Padilla was not restrained and suffered fatal injuries. Five other occupants in the Yukon were also injured and were all transported to a local hospital with injuries ranging from moderate to severe. Francis and his passenger were properly restrained and neither suffered injuries. Standard toxicology results are pending, but impairment is not suspected. This crash remained under investigation.

Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists that, while not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a crash rise significantly when properly restrained. Making good choices while in motor vehicles such as always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained can often mean the difference between life and death.

Troop I has investigated 36 fatal crashes resulting in 45 deaths in 2021.