MANSFIELD, LA — A Florida man was killed early Sunday after he was struck by a vehicle on U.S. Highway 84 near Radio Station Road in DeSoto Parish, according to Louisiana State Police.
The crash happened around 4:30 a.m. and involved a 2008 Dodge Caravan traveling east. State police said the 62-year-old pedestrian was walking west in the eastbound lane when he moved into the van’s path.
The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was hurt but suffered only minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.
How Louisiana State Police say the collision unfolded
Investigators said the pedestrian was in the eastbound lane even though he was walking west. That placed him directly in the lane used by the Dodge Caravan as it headed east on U.S. 84.
State police have not said whether weather, lighting or road conditions played a role. They have also not released the names of the people involved.
The highway and nearby Radio Station Road are part of a rural stretch in DeSoto Parish where traffic can move quickly before dawn. In this case, the collision occurred in the dark hours of the morning.
Pedestrian impairment is suspected, police say
State police said impairment is suspected on the part of the pedestrian. They did not elaborate on what led investigators to that conclusion.
By contrast, impairment by the driver is not suspected, according to the agency. That distinction is part of the preliminary findings in the case.
Police have not said whether toxicology testing was ordered or whether any additional evidence has been collected as part of the investigation.
Driver taken to hospital after minor injuries
The driver of the Dodge Caravan was reported to have suffered minor injuries in the crash. Emergency responders took that person to a hospital for treatment.
Louisiana State Police did not say how the vehicle was damaged or whether it remained drivable after the collision. No other injuries were reported.
Because the pedestrian died at the scene, the crash quickly became a fatality investigation. That means state police will continue examining the circumstances surrounding the impact.
What investigators have not yet released
State police have not released the pedestrian’s name, and they have not said where in Florida he was from. They also have not identified the driver.
The agency’s statement gives only the basic sequence of events: an eastbound Dodge Caravan, a pedestrian walking west in the lane, and a fatal impact shortly after 4:30 a.m.
Further findings could clarify why the pedestrian was in the roadway and whether any other factors contributed to the crash. For now, investigators say the case remains open.
Safety concerns on early-morning highway travel
The crash underscores the danger of pedestrians moving along high-speed roads before sunrise, when visibility is limited and drivers may have less time to react. State police described the collision as having occurred on a highway lane used by eastbound traffic.
U.S. 84 is a major route through DeSoto Parish, and the area near Radio Station Road is one where motorists and pedestrians can encounter each other unexpectedly. The fatality adds another serious incident to a roadway already under investigation.
Louisiana State Police said the crash remains under investigation. No timeline has been given for additional findings.
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