Bicyclist Struck and Killed Near Sulphur
CALCASIEU PARISH — A man riding a bicycle was struck and killed last night on U.S. 90 west of Sulphur.
On April 9, 2018, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop D responded to a two-vehicle crash involving a bicycle on U.S. Highway 90 near Choupique Road west of Sulphur. The preliminary investigation revealed 34-year-old James Brooks of Sulphur was traveling east on a bicycle, in the middle of the eastbound lane of travel, when he was struck from behind by a pickup truck driven by 45-year-old Thomas LeDoux of Sulphur. At the time of the crash, Brooks did not have proper lighting on his bicycle and was wearing dark-colored clothing.
Brooks received fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Calcasieu Parish Crooner’s Office.
LeDoux was not injured and was not charged in the crash.
Routine toxicology samples were obtained from the drivers and will be submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, bicyclist deaths occur most often between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Louisiana state law requires every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway to ride as near to the right side of the roadway as possible. Additionally, state law requires bicycles to be equipped with reflectors as well as front and rear lights and for bicyclists to use these lights between sunset and sunrise.
In 2018, Troop D has investigated 7 fatal crashes resulting in 7 deaths.