Fourth fatal motorcycle crash reported this week

Published 7:56 pm Sunday, February 26, 2023

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that happened Saturday night — the fourth to occur in Calcasieu Parish this week.

Spokesperson Kayla Vincent said deputies responded to the crash at about 10 p.m. on Alligator Park Road. She said the driver of the motorcycle, Tyrel D. Thompson, 41, was traveling recklessly on a private road inside Alligator Park when the motorcycle hit a tree near the roadway.

Thompson was thrown from his motorcycle and pronounced deceased at the scene, Vincent said. He was not wearing a DOT-approved helmet.

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Impairment is believed to be a factor in the crash, she said. As mandated by state law, toxicology testing will be performed.

Motorcyclist Kelly Bowman, 49, of Lake Charles was traveling eastbound on Lincoln Road on Monday night when the motorcycle exited the roadway and crashed for unknown reasons. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.

A Lake Charles motorcyclist and his passenger were killed Tuesday night in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. 171 and Victoria Drive in Moss Bluff.

Louisiana State Police Trooper Derek Senegal said the crash claimed the life of 32-year-old Jeffery B. Spell Jr. and 29-year-old Connie Sue Fontenot. Senegal said the initial investigation revealed a 2004 Kawasaki motorcycle, operated by Spell, was traveling south on U.S. 171 at a high rate of speed. The driver of a 2016 Ford pickup truck was making a left turn onto Victoria Drive when the motorcycle struck the Ford. The impact caused both Spell and Fontenot to be ejected from the motorcycle.