Coushatta Man Killed in Crash in Webster Parish

Tragedy in Webster Parish where a crash near Heflin has claimed the life of a Coushatta man. State Police say the wreck happened just before 6am on Friday morning on US Highway 371 just north of LA Highway 531.

Troop G responded to the crash and determined a 2023 Chevrolet Camaro, driven by 57-year-old Paul Born, was headed north on US Hwy 371 at a high rate of speed. The State Police report says:

For reasons still under investigation, Born exited the roadway and struck an embankment. This impact caused the Chevrolet to travel through a creek and then strike a tree. Born, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Minden Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in this crash; however, routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis.

This crash remains under investigation. Drivers are urged to obey all speed limit signs and avoid all distractions. You are also urged to buckle up anytime you get in a car to travel the roadways. The Troop G report says "speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a situation. Speeding and other aggressive driving behaviors are among the leading causes of highway crashes and fatalities."

Since the beginning of this year, Troop G has investigated 34 fatal crashes, resulting in 37 deaths.