Iberia Parish – On July 13, 2024, shortly before 10:00 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a single-vehicle fatality crash involving a pedestrian on Louisiana Highway 83 south of Louisiana Highway 14. The crash claimed the life of 75-year-old Francis Firmin of New Iberia.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Firmin was setting triangular traffic cones in the southbound lane of LA 83 in an attempt to recover his vehicle, which was stuck in the east ditch. At the same time, a 2002 Ford Mustang was traveling south on LA-14. The Ford struck Firmin in the southbound lane of LA 83.
Firmin suffered severe injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died. The driver of the Ford was properly restrained and was not injured. Although impairment on the part of the Ford driver was not suspected, standard toxicology samples were collected from all parties involved and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.