Louisiana state troopers are investigating an early morning fatal crash in Tangipahoa Parish that claimed the life of a 38-year-old driver on Saturday. Emergency crews were dispatched to Louisiana Highway 40 near Huck Road close to Independence at about 5:20 a.m. on September 12, 2026.
According to state police, James M. Crawford of Albany was traveling west in a 2018 Kia Soul. The car suddenly ran off the right side of the roadway and collided with a roadside culvert.
Troopers noted that Crawford was unrestrained at the time of the collision. The violent force of hitting the culvert threw him out of the car before emergency personnel reached the site.
First responders provided immediate care at the scene and transported Crawford to a local hospital in critical condition. Doctors pronounced him dead a short time later due to the severe trauma he suffered.
Investigators with Troop L confirmed that Crawford was the sole occupant of the Kia Soul and no other vehicles were involved. Crash reconstruction teams spent hours examining tire marks, road conditions, and the vehicle itself.
Standard toxicology tests were ordered by state police to help determine if impairment or illness played a role in the accident. Results from state laboratories usually take several weeks to process completely.
Troop L continues to urge drivers to stay focused behind the wheel and always wear a seatbelt on rural state routes. The investigation into why Crawford drifted off Highway 40 remains active.
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