A teenager from St. Landry Parish is dead following a crash last night in Evangeline Parish.
Shortly after 10:30 p.m., State Police Troop I responded to the crash, involving two vehicles, on LA 104 at Beacon Road.
State troopers say 18-year-old McKenzie Dupre, from the Town of Washington, was driving her car through the intersection when she was hit by a Ford F-150 truck that was heading eastbound on LA 104.
According to a state police spokesman, Dupre was not wearing a seatbelt and sustained critical injuries. She was taken to the hospital where she later died.
The driver of the truck was wearing a seatbelt. He was treated at the hospital for minor injuries.
Troopers don’t believe impairment to be a factor in the crash, but toxicology samples were obtained from both Dupre and the driver of the truck.
The crash remains under investigation.
State police wish to remind motorists that all occupants of a motor vehicle must be restrained, regardless of seating position. While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a crash rise significantly when properly restrained. Making good choices while in motor vehicles, such as never driving while impaired, always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained, and avoiding all distractions, can often mean the difference between life and death.
