A Baton Rouge man died in a Friday afternoon crash on I-10 in St. Charles Parish.
The accident happened at about 3:30 p.m., a spokesman for State Police Troop B said.
The crash involved four vehicles, he said. Stephen Blackwell, 27, of Baton Rouge, died.
Troopers say the crash happened when Luis Caballero, 27, of Kenner was driving an SUV at a high rate of speed in the left lane. Traffic ahead was slowing due to congestion, and Caballero crashed into the ear of a pick-up truck.
The impact pushed the pick-up into the rear of the Harley Davidson that Blackwell was riding. Blackwell was thrown off the bike, and the bike then crashed into to the rear of another pick-up.
Despite wearing an approved DOT helmet, Blackwell sustained fatal injuries in the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the St Charles Parish Coroner’s Office.
Caballero was properly restrained at the time of the crash. He sustained moderate injuries and was transported to University Medical Center by St. Charles EMS.
The drivers of the pick-up trucks were also properly restrained and uninjured in the crash.
Presently, impairment is not suspected to have been a contributing factor in this crash, the spokesman says.
As part of the on-going investigation, blood samples were collected and will be sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis. Troopers do suspect speed to have been a contributing factor. Criminal charges will be forwarded to the St. Charles Parish District Attorney’s Office pending the completion of the investigation.
