Carey Austin Independence LA Death – In the early hours of Sunday, October 20, 2024, Louisiana State Police Troop L responded to a fatal crash in St. Helena Parish that claimed the life of a local resident.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 2:40 a.m. on Louisiana Highway 16 near its intersection with Highway 449, involved a single vehicle that veered off the road and crashed into a tree. Tragically, the driver, identified as 33-year-old Carey Austin from Independence, Louisiana, did not survive the crash.
The preliminary investigation by Louisiana State Police revealed that Austin was driving a 2008 Ford F-150 westbound on LA Highway 16 when, for reasons still under investigation, his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree.
The impact of the collision was severe, causing fatal injuries to Austin. Authorities confirmed that Austin was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. Despite the quick response from emergency medical teams, Austin was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger was also in the vehicle at the time of the crash, though their identity has not yet been released. Unlike Austin, the passenger was wearing a seatbelt, which may have played a role in their survival. However, the individual sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. As of the latest report, the condition of the passenger remains unknown, but they are under close medical supervision. Officials are awaiting further updates regarding their recovery.
In line with standard protocol for fatal crashes, state troopers collected toxicology samples from Austin. While the results of these tests are pending, investigators are exploring various possible causes for the accident, including the potential for driver impairment, fatigue, and distracted driving. T
hese factors are often scrutinized in single-vehicle crashes, where driver behavior is a key determinant of the outcome. As more details emerge from the toxicology report, authorities will aim to provide a clearer picture of what led to this tragic event.
Louisiana State Police have once again highlighted the critical importance of seatbelt use, especially in preventing fatal outcomes in vehicular accidents. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has consistently shown that seatbelt use can reduce the risk of death by 45% for drivers and front-seat passengers in cars. The survival rate increases even more significantly for passengers in pickup trucks like the one Austin was driving, where the risk of death without a seatbelt is particularly high. According to authorities, had Austin been wearing a seatbelt, the chances of him surviving the crash might have been higher.