Shortly before 11 a.m. Monday morning, troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop L began investigating a single vehicle fatal crash on Louisiana Highway 62 less than a mile north of Louisiana Highway 10 in Washington Parish. The crash took the life of the 18-wheeler driver, 57 year old Joey Dunaway of Kokomo, Miss.

Troopers’ investigation revealed that the crash occurred as Dunaway was traveling south on Highway 62 in a 1999 Western Star log truck when, for reasons under investigation, he failed to maneuver a left curve in the roadway and ran off the west side of the highway. As the log truck left the paved roadway, it rolled onto its right side and caught fire, engulfing the cab of the truck. Dunaway was pronounced dead at the scene by the Washington Parish Coroner’s Office. Because of the extent of the fire, restraint use is unknown, and toxicology results are pending.

The crash closed the highway for several hours Monday.

Troopers remind motorists that the vast majority of motor vehicle crashes are preventable through driver vigilance, avoiding distractions and never driving while impaired or fatigued. In addition, while not all crashes are survivable, the proper use of seatbelts and restraint devices greatly improves occupants’ chances of survival through allowing the body to “ride” down the forces of the crash in a controlled deceleration.