Distracted driving suspected in fatal Louisiana highway crash

VERNON PARISH, La. (WNTZ) – On July 21, 2025, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a one-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 463 near Moore Road.  This crash claimed the life of 57-year-old Brian Perkins of Pitkin. 

The initial investigation revealed that a 2017 Ford F-250, driven by Perkins, was northbound on Louisiana Highway 463. For reasons still under investigation, Perkins failed to negotiate a left hand curve. As a result, the vehicle left the roadway, impacted the ditch embankment, and sequentially overturned.

Perkins, restraint usage unknown, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead. Routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.

While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, distracted and inattentive driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in our state.  Louisiana State Police urges all motorists to stay alert while driving.  A lapse in one’s awareness can have deadly consequences.