Sun man hurt in fatal crash
Published 4:49 am Friday, July 21, 2017
A 60-year-old Sun man was injured Tuesday in a two-vehicle crash in St. Helena Parish that also claimed the life of a 65-year-old Amite man, according to Trooper Dustin Dwight of the Louisiana State Police.
Dwight said that at approximately 11:40 a.m. on Tuesday, troopers from LSP Troop L responded to a fatal crash on Louisiana Highway 43 at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 16. The crash claimed the life of Jesus Luis Munoz, 65, of Amite.
The initial on-scene investigation led troopers to determine that the crash occurred as Munoz was driving a 1997 Ford F-150 northbound on Highway 43. As Munoz approached the intersection of Highway 16, he attempted to turn left. When Munoz turned, he failed to yield to a 2001 Ford F-350, which had been traveling eastbound on Highway 16.
The F-350 was driven by Victor D. Pierce, 60, of Sun, and was towing a 20-foot flatbed trailer, Dwight said. As Munoz entered the intersection, the front of the F-350 crashed into the left front fender and driver’s door of his F-150. Following the collision, Pierce’s F-350 continued into the parking lot of Miller’s Grocery and crashed into two parked vehicles, Dwight said.
Despite being properly restrained, Munoz sustained severe injuries in the crash. He was pronounced deceased on-scene by the St. Helena Parish Coroner’s Office. Pierce was also properly restrained at the time of the crash. He suffered moderate injuries and was transported to North Oaks Health Systems by Acadian Air Med.
Dwight said that at this time, impairment is not suspected to have contributed to this crash. As part of the on-going investigation, Troopers obtained blood samples from both drivers. The samples will be sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis.