Shortly before 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, Louisiana State Police Troop F responded to a crash on LA 34 at the intersection of Philpot Road.
The preliminary investigation revealed a 1998 Toyota 4-Runner, driven by 19-year-old Paul Robbins of West Monroe, LA, was stopped on Philpot Road preparing to make a left turn onto LA 34. For unknown reasons, Robbins made a left turn onto LA 34, into the path of a 2000 Mack Dump truck, driven by 43-year-old Thomas Allen of Calhoun, LA.
Allen took evasive action to try and miss the 4-Runner, but was unable to do so and struck the right rear. After striking the 4-Runner, the dump truck traveled off the road into a ditch and overturned. Allen was partially ejected and pronounced dead at the scene by the Ouachita Parish Coroner’s Office.
Routine toxicology samples were obtained and will be submitted for analysis. Robbins was cited for failure to yield at a stop sign.
The crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Troopers wish to remind motorists that all occupants of a motor vehicle must be restrained, regardless of seating position. While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that the chances of surviving a crash rise significantly when properly restrained.
Making good choices while in motor vehicles such as never driving while impaired, always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained, and avoiding all distractions can often mean the difference between life and death.
In 2017, Troop F has investigated 9 fatal crashes resulting in 9 deaths.