A tragic incident occurred last Friday evening, when a 61-year-old bicyclist, John Howard, lost his life following a collision with a Ford F-150 pickup truck on Highway 61 near Belle Terre Boulevard in St. John the Baptist Parish. The Louisiana State Police reported to WWLTV that the accident took place at approximately 7:30 p.m.
According to the preliminary investigation as mentioned by WGNO, Howard had managed to cross to quickly navigate the northbound lanes and the left southbound lane, but fatally entered the right southbound lane, which put him directly in the path of the oncoming vehicle. Troopers stated that Howard suffered serious injuries from the crash and was subsequently transported to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The driver of the Ford truck was reportedly unharmed in the incident. While impairment is not suspected on the part of the vehicle's operator, a voluntary toxicology sample was taken for analysis to confirm. As noted by WAFB, investigation into Howard's state at the time of the accident is ongoing, and routine toxicology results are awaited to determine if impairment was a factor on his behalf.
Louisiana State Police Troop B has taken the moment to harshly remind the public that, under Louisiana law, a bicycle is considered a vehicle, necessitating that cyclists must adhere to the same traffic regulations as motorized vehicles. "Never assume that a motorist can see you, and remember it’s important to stay visible by using appropriate lighting and wearing bright or reflective clothing in low-light conditions," stated Troop B, as per WGNO. They've encouraged those seeking more information on bicycle safety practices to visit the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s website.
