A Bogalusa man was killed in a single vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 436 about six miles north of Franklinton shortly before 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

According to the Louisiana State Police Troop L investigation, Sidney Sumrall, 54, was traveling west on the highway in a 1995 Chevrolet Suburban when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle drifted off the right side of the roadway. Sumrall overcorrected to the left, causing the Suburban to cross both lanes of the highway before running off the opposite side.

As the vehicle left the roadway for a second time it impacted an embankment and overturned, ejecting Sumrall, who was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Washington Parish Coroner’s Office.

Alcohol use is not suspected pending the results of a toxicology examination, according to the LSP report.

The proper use of occupant protection systems, including seat belts and air bags, can greatly decrease an occupant’s chance of death and may greatly reduce the extent of injury, police said.  

Louisiana law requires every vehicle occupant, front and back seat, to be properly restrained day or night. Buckling up every trip and every time is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash.