Hammond man died in crash on La. Highway 37

A Hammond man died on Monday when the dump truck he was driving veered off the road and into a ditch, then went airborne and crashed into a tree.

A Louisiana State Police investigation found that the 2001 Mack 18-wheeler, which was hauling gravel, was headed south on La. Hwy. 37, near Stoney Point Birch Road, when Wright allowed the vehicle to leave the highway.

The accident happened about 9 a.m. in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The driver was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene. Investigators do not believe Wright was impaired, but routine tests will be done at a state lab.