A 17-year-old from Killian, in Livingston Parish, died after the car he was driving ran a stop sign and collided with a pickup truck at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 1064 and Greco Road in Tangipahoa Parish. The teen, who troopers said was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle and later died at a hospital from his injuries.
According to WDSU, the crash happened around 5 p.m. Sunday near Tickfaw. A 2009 Kia Optima was heading north on Greco Road, approaching the highway, while a 2021 GMC Sierra traveled west on LA 1064. Troopers said the Kia failed to stop at the sign controlling Greco Road and entered the intersection directly in front of the GMC, which struck the Kia on its passenger side.
Authorities have not released the teenager's name, and it remains unclear whether impairment played any role in the crash, as that detail has not yet been determined at the time of this report. Investigators took toxicology samples as part of the routine investigation, a standard step following a fatal crash, per Unfiltered with Kiran.
Injuries to the GMC's Occupants
The driver of the GMC was also unrestrained and sustained minor injuries, and was transported to a hospital for treatment, the WDSU report notes. A passenger riding in the GMC was wearing a seat belt and also suffered only minor injuries. State police troopers responded to the scene and are continuing to investigate exactly how the crash unfolded.
A Stretch of Highway With a Deadly History
This is not the first fatal wreck at that same intersection. In October 2024, Louisiana State Police investigated a fatal three-vehicle crash at the same LA Highway 1064 and Greco Road junction that killed two Independence residents, 26-year-old Devarious Robinson and 64-year-old Joe Pittman.
Unbelted teen drivers have factored into other recent Louisiana tragedies as well. In August, 17-year-old Zoe Villatoro of Bourg died following a crash in Lafourche Parish; state police said she, too, was unrestrained at the time and was transported to an out-of-area hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. Louisiana State Police have reiterated that state law requires everyone in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, to be properly restrained at all times.
Young Drivers and Louisiana's Crash Numbers
The Tickfaw crash adds to a sobering statewide tally. According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, there were 81 fatal crashes involving drivers aged 15 to 20 in Louisiana during 2025, matching the 81 fatal crashes involving drivers aged 21 to 24 that same year. The commission also recorded 7,261 suspected injury crashes involving drivers aged 15 to 20 in 2025, compared with 6,175 among drivers aged 21 to 24.
Louisiana State Police continue to investigate the Tickfaw crash, and no further details about the occupants' conditions or the probe's final findings have been released.
