A 26-year-old man is facing two counts of vehicular homicide after Louisiana State Police say he rear-ended a Jeep that was slowing to turn into a private driveway on Louisiana Highway 389, killing both people inside. The crash happened near DeQuincy, east of Hargrove Loop Road in Calcasieu Parish, shortly after 9 p.m. last Friday, October 30, and claimed the lives of a 52-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man, both from Sulphur.
According to Louisiana State Police, Troop D troopers responded to the two-vehicle wreck after a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Dylan Havens struck the rear of a 2016 Jeep SUV traveling ahead of him on the same highway. As reported by American Press, the Jeep was slowing to make a left turn into a private driveway when the impact sent both vehicles off the roadway.
The Jeep's driver and passenger were both properly restrained, the American Press report notes, but neither survived. The passenger sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Havens, who was also properly restrained, suffered only minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Signs of Impairment Led to Arrest
Troopers reported that Havens displayed signs of impairment during their investigation and was subsequently arrested. Investigators obtained a search warrant and collected a toxicology sample from Havens, which has been submitted for analysis, the station's report states. The crash investigation remains ongoing, according to KPLC.
After his release from the hospital, Havens was booked on two counts of vehicular homicide, careless operation and speeding. The same report states he was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center, though KLFY identified the booking location as the Calcasieu Parish Jail.
The Charges Against Havens
Havens faces two counts of vehicular homicide and a careless-operation charge.
A Broader Pattern on Louisiana Roads
The DeQuincy crash lands amid a troubling statewide trend. Alcohol-related crashes made up 26% of Louisiana's fatal wrecks in 2024, with 201 alcohol-impaired fatalities, according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. That share climbed to 27% in 2025, with alcohol-related fatalities rising to 211, the commission reports.
Statewide, Louisiana recorded 766 motor vehicle fatalities in 2025, up from 753 the year before, a rise that coincided with an 11% jump in DWI fatalities, according to the Louisiana Radio Network. The same data showed seat belt use reaching a record-high 88%; about 54,000 people were injured in crashes, and 35,197 crashes resulted in one or more injuries in 2025.
Louisiana State Police used the DeQuincy case to repeat a familiar safety message, advising motorists that alcohol, prescription drugs and other drugs can impair the visual ability, reaction times and fine motor skills needed to drive safely. Troopers encouraged drivers to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before getting behind the wheel.
