Louisiana State Police Say Killian Teen Was Killed in Hammond Area Crash After Running Stop Sign and Being Ejected From Car

HAMMOND, LA — A 17-year-old from Killian died after being thrown from a vehicle in a weekend crash at the intersection of Natalbany and Greco roads, according to Louisiana State Police. Investigators say the teen was driving a 2009 Kia Optima north on Greco Road around 5:30 p.m. Sunday when the car entered the intersection and was struck by a 2021 GMC Sierra.

State Police said the Kia driver failed to stop at the stop sign on Natalbany Road before the collision. The teenager and the GMC driver were both taken to local hospitals after the wreck. The teen later died from injuries suffered in the crash.

Authorities say neither driver was wearing a seatbelt

Louisiana State Police said neither driver involved in the collision was buckled in at the time of the crash. The teen was ejected from the Kia Optima, a detail that investigators included in their initial account of what happened Sunday evening.

The agency has not said which hospital treated the two drivers or how severe the GMC driver’s injuries were. Police did say the crash is still under investigation, leaving the sequence of events subject to further review as investigators continue collecting information.

Seatbelt use can be a key factor in survival during severe crashes, and in this case police say the lack of restraint use was part of the dangerous chain of events. The teen’s ejection from the vehicle underscores how quickly a stop-sign violation can turn deadly on a rural roadway.

One passenger in the truck was hurt but expected to survive

There was also a passenger riding in the GMC Sierra, and police said that person was wearing a seatbelt. According to State Police, the passenger suffered minor injuries in the collision.

Unlike the two drivers, the passenger was not reported to have been hospitalized with life-threatening harm. The account released by police did not identify the passenger or say whether the person received treatment at the scene or at a medical facility.

Even when only one vehicle’s driver makes a mistake, the impact can spread to everyone in the path of the collision. In this case, a passenger who was properly restrained still came away injured, showing how forceful the crash was at the intersection.

Crash happened Sunday evening at Natalbany and Greco roads

The wreck happened in the Hammond area at the crossing of Natalbany and Greco roads, a spot where drivers must navigate an intersection and follow posted controls. Police said the Kia was traveling north on Greco Road when it approached Natalbany Road.

According to investigators, the teen did not stop at the sign before entering the intersection. The GMC Sierra then struck the Kia, setting off the violent crash that ended with the young driver being ejected from the car.

The timing also matters: the collision occurred at about 5:30 p.m., when traffic can be heavier than earlier in the day. Louisiana State Police did not say whether weather, visibility or road conditions played any role in the crash.

Toxicology samples were taken from both drivers after the collision

As is standard in serious crashes, police collected routine toxicology samples from both drivers and sent them for analysis. Those results were not immediately available, and investigators have not said whether impairment is suspected.

Louisiana State Police said the crash remains under investigation. That means the agency is still working through the evidence, including the vehicles, the intersection and the circumstances that led the teen to run the stop sign.

For now, the known facts point to a deadly collision that began with a missed stop and ended with a family in mourning. More details may emerge once investigators finish their review and toxicology testing is complete.