Two Elderly Women Die in Head on Crash on River Road in St. John the Baptist Parish as Investigators Review Why Car Crossed Centerline

GARYVILLE, LA — Two elderly women were killed Friday afternoon when a head-on crash shut down part of LA 44, also known as River Road, in St. John the Baptist Parish. Louisiana State Police said the women were riding in a 2011 Toyota Corolla that crossed the centerline and collided with an oncoming box truck near Marigold Street in Garyville.

Troopers said the crash happened around noon. Both women were wearing seat belts, but officials said they suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver, who was also buckled in, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

Troopers say the Corolla entered the eastbound lane

According to Louisiana State Police, the Corolla was headed west on LA 44 while a 2023 Freightliner box truck was traveling eastbound toward Marigold Street. Investigators said the car moved across the centerline into the truck’s lane for reasons that are still under investigation.

The impact was head-on, leaving the two vehicles badly involved in the crash. Trooper Kyle Wagner said the preliminary findings show the Corolla’s lane departure was the key factor being examined, but investigators have not yet said what caused the vehicle to drift into opposing traffic.

Seat belts were used but the collision was still fatal

State police emphasized that everyone in both vehicles was wearing a seat belt at the time of the wreck. Even so, the two women in the Corolla did not survive the collision. Their names have not been released publicly in the information provided by troopers.

Wagner said the outcome is a reminder that some crashes are not survivable, even when people take basic safety steps. He urged drivers to avoid impaired, fatigued, or distracted driving, saying those decisions can make the difference between life and death on the road.

The truck driver suffered minor injuries and was taken for treatment

The driver of the Freightliner box truck was treated after the crash and was described by Louisiana State Police as having minor injuries. Troopers said the driver was transported to a hospital after the collision.

Officials did not report any serious injuries to anyone outside the two vehicles involved. The crash unfolded on a stretch of River Road that carries local traffic through the Garyville area, where LA 44 runs near Marigold Street.

River Road crash investigation remains open

Louisiana State Police said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. That means troopers still have to determine why the Corolla crossed into the eastbound lane before impact and whether any other factors played a role.

For now, investigators have released only the basic sequence of events and the injuries reported at the scene. The crash adds to the list of deadly collisions that state police continue to review on Louisiana roads, where lane departures and head-on crashes can be especially dangerous.

State police use the deadly wreck to reinforce driving warnings

After the fatal collision, Trooper Wagner repeated a standard safety message from Louisiana State Police. He urged motorists not to drive while impaired, tired, or distracted, and said those choices can have deadly consequences.

His remarks came as investigators worked to piece together the final moments before the crash. While officials have not yet identified a specific trigger, they said the case serves as another example of how quickly an ordinary drive can turn deadly when a vehicle crosses into oncoming traffic.