Alexandria, LA : One man killed, another injured in Avoyelles wreck on Friday afternoon, September 9, 2016

A single-vehicle accident south of Bunkie left one man dead and another injured, according to Louisiana State Police Troop E.

James A. Savage, 33, of St. Landry was killed in the Friday afternoon accident, and Ryan C. Bernard, 24, of Bunkie was injured, police reported.

Troopers responded to the crash about 4:40 p.m. Friday on La. Highway 115 south of Bunkie.

Savage was driving a 1982 GMC pickup truck south on La. 115 when the vehicle apparently experienced a major transmission failure, police reported.

That caused the rear tires to become nonfunctional, police said, and the truck went off the right side of the road, hit a culvert and overturned.

Savage was pronounced dead. Bernard, the only passenger, suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Rapides Regional Trauma Center in Alexandria.

Neither man was wearing a seat belt, police said.

Routine toxicology tests are pending, and the crash remains under investigation.

In a news release about the accident, State Police said, “Not wearing a seat belt remains the leading cause of death in motor vehicle crashes.”

Troopers from Troop E have investigated 37 fatal crashes in 2016, resulting in 42 fatalities.

Source :
One man killed, another injured in Avoyelles wreck