A Thursday morning drive on a rural Tangipahoa Parish highway ended in tragedy when a Franklinton man was killed in a two-vehicle crash on La. 1057 near Milburn Grace Road in Kentwood. The collision happened shortly after 7:30 a.m., and first responders pronounced the driver dead at the scene.
State police identified the victim as Jerome Warren. Troopers said he was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Impala east on La. 1057 when the passenger car struck the right side of a 2021 Western Star tractor-trailer, as reported by WGNO. After the impact, both vehicles left the roadway and entered the tree line. Warren was pronounced dead at the scene, while the truck driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, was uninjured. Troopers collected routine toxicology samples as part of the ongoing investigation.
State police investigating
Troopers with the Louisiana State Police are handling the probe and have not released further details about what caused the collision. Troop L has been investigating several fatal crashes in Tangipahoa Parish in recent weeks, and the agency routinely emphasizes seatbelt use and impaired-driving enforcement in that area, according to the Louisiana State Police. The department asks anyone with information to contact investigators as the case remains active.
Safety reminders and next steps
Rural two-lane highways like La. 1057 can be unforgiving when a collision sends vehicles off the pavement and into trees, particularly where large trucks are involved. National data show that seat belts, when used properly, can reduce the risk of fatal injury for front-seat passenger car occupants by roughly 45 percent, according to NHTSA. Louisiana State Police continue to investigate the crash and will release more information as it becomes available.
