Donaldsonville woman, 62, dies in crash near White Castle

A 62-year-old Donaldsonville woman died early Monday south of White Castle in Iberville Parish after her SUV left La. 1, struck a culvert and overturned several times, Louisiana State Police announced.

Gail M. Smith was unrestrained and was ejected from the vehicle, suffering fatal injuries, Trooper First Class Jared L. Sandifer said.

State Police began working the crash shortly before 3:15 a.m., determining that Smith was driving a 2007 Ford Explorer southbound on La. 1. when, for unknown reasons, she ran off the roadway to the right, Sandifer said.

Driver impairment is not suspected at this time; however, a toxicology sample was taken from Smith and submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis, he said.