A Mississippi man is sitting in a Louisiana jail after a risky traffic maneuver on Highway 61 turned fatal. Police booked 40-year-old Andre Jones of Vicksburg into the West Feliciana Parish Jail on charges of negligent homicide after his full-sized SUV cut across two lanes of traffic, causing a fatal crash with an oncoming motorcycle.
The crash took place just before 6:30 p.m. on Monday, September 21, near West Feliciana Parkway. Jones was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe northbound in the right lane of U.S. 61. State troopers say Jones tried to execute a sudden U-turn from the far-right lane to head south, sweeping across the left northbound lane where 28-year-old Ryan Flint was riding his 1998 Honda Shadow.
Flint, a resident of St. Francisville who was wearing a DOT-approved helmet at the time, had no room to avoid the turning vehicle. His motorcycle slammed directly into the driver’s side of Jones’ Tahoe. First responders rushed Flint to a nearby hospital with severe injuries, but he died shortly after arrival.
When state troopers processed the scene, they discovered that Jones was driving the vehicle without valid auto insurance. Investigators also cited him for illegal window tint on the Tahoe, adding to the list of legal violations stemming from the crash. Jones suffered minor injuries in the collision and received medical treatment before officers took him into custody.
Two passengers were inside Jones’ SUV at the time of the broadside hit, but neither suffered physical injuries. State police reported that alcohol or drug impairment is not suspected to have played a role in the collision. However, officers collected standard toxicology samples from Jones to submit for official analysis.
Jones now faces criminal court proceedings in West Feliciana Parish, including charges of careless operation alongside the felony negligent homicide count. Louisiana State Police crash reconstruction experts are reviewing vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions to finalize their formal report for local prosecutors.
The fatal crash underscores the severe legal and personal consequences of illegal traffic maneuvers on high-speed Louisiana corridors like U.S. 61. With Jones facing jail time and Flint’s family preparing for a funeral, law enforcement officers are urging motorists to practice basic lane discipline and ensure their vehicles are legally insured before hitting the road.
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