DENHAM SPRINGS — A single vehicle fatality crash took the life of a pedestrian, Jason Taylor of Greenwell Springs, age 46, on La. 16 south of Lockhart Road.
The crash occurred around 4 a.m. on Friday, according to State Police Trooper Bryan Lee.
The crash occurred as Taylor was walking in the middle of the southbound lane of La. 16 while wearing dark clothing. Clinton resident Larry Myrick, age 62, was traveling southbound on La. 16 in a 2013 Dodge Ram.
Myrick steered to the left in an attempt to avoid striking Taylor but was unable to avoid contact, Lee said.
Taylor was struck in the middle of the right southbound lane of La. 16 by the front right side of Myrick’s vehicle.
Taylor sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Livingston Parish Coroner’s Office, Lee said.
Myrick was properly restrained and was not injured. Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash but a toxicology sample will be taken from both Taylor and Myrick for analysis.
According to the Governor's Highway Safety Association, Louisiana had 46 pedestrian deaths in 2015 and 49 deaths in 2014.
State Police urge pedestrians to maintain a heightened level of awareness while walking near the road. Simple precautions such as wearing reflective materials, avoiding distractions, and walking a safe distance from travel lanes while facing oncoming traffic could help prevent many pedestrian related crashes, Lee said.
