Early Morning Crash Kills Unidentified Bicyclist in Iberia Parish

IBERIA PARISH – Shortly after 1:00 a.m. on August 7, 2020, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash involving a bicycle on LA Hwy 14 near LA Hwy 676 in Iberia Parish. The crash took the life of an unidentified male.
The initial investigation by State Police revealed the crash occurred as the bicyclist was traveling westbound on a red Raleigh Mountain Trail bicycle in the center of the outside travel lane of LA 14. At the same time, a 2003 Ford Escape was being driven westbound in the same lane on LA Hwy 14. The bicycle was not equipped with any lights on the front or the rear. As the driver of the Escape approached the bicycle from the rear, she was unable to avoid the bicycle. As a result, the Escape struck the rear of the bicycle, ejecting the bicyclist.
The unidentified bicyclist was pronounced dead on the scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. A toxicology sample was obtained from the bicyclist and the results are pending. The driver of the Escape was properly restrained and was uninjured. A breath sample was obtained from the driver of the Escape which indicated no alcohol in her system and no signs of impairment were observed. This crash remains under investigation.
Bicyclists should never assume that motorists can see them. Louisiana Revised Statute 32:329.1 states that bicyclists cannot ride on a state highway, parish road, or city street between sunset and sunrise unless their bicycle is equipped with lamps and reflectors. Furthermore, LRS 32:197 states that bicyclists should ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable. Troopers would like to remind bicyclists that simple precautions such as using proper lighting, wearing reflective materials, and obeying all traffic laws are vital in preventing crashes.
Troop I has investigated 31 fatal crashes resulting in 34 deaths since the beginning of 2020.