LOGANSPORT, La. — An early-morning crash in DeSoto Parish has left two people dead following a single-vehicle wreck on Louisiana Highway 5 near Cool Springs Road, according to Louisiana State Police.
Troopers say the crash occurred around 5:15 a.m. on June 11 when authorities were called to the scene of a serious collision involving a pickup truck. Investigators determined that a 2008 Ford F-250 was traveling southbound when, for reasons still under investigation, it left the roadway, overturned, and struck a tree.
Both the driver and passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver has been identified as Michael Haynes, 23, of Gladewater, Texas. The passenger has been identified as Jessie Pena, 34, of Victoria, Texas.
According to investigators, neither Haynes nor Pena was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, which authorities say contributed to the severity of the outcome. No other vehicles were involved.
Louisiana State Police noted that impairment is currently unknown. Routine toxicology samples were collected and will be analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation.
The crash scene was processed by troopers who documented roadway evidence and vehicle damage as part of standard procedure. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the truck to leave the roadway, and they say the investigation remains active as they work to piece together the events leading up to the crash.
The fatal wreck has left two Texas communities grieving the sudden loss of both men. Friends and family are now mourning Michael Haynes and Jessie Pena, whose lives were cut short in the early hours of the morning on a rural stretch of highway in northwest Louisiana.
Officials are urging drivers to remain vigilant on rural roadways, especially during early morning hours when visibility and fatigue can be contributing factors in serious crashes.
Louisiana State Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
