Arcadia – On May 21, 2025, at approximately 10:50 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 80 near Louisiana Highway 9. The crash claimed the life of 32-year-old David Gardner of Lucky.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2002 Honda Accord, driven by Gardner, was traveling east on U.S. Highway 80. For reasons still under investigation, Gardner’s vehicle exited the roadway and collided with a culvert.
Gardner, who was unrestrained at the time of the crash, sustained severe injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Two passengers in the Honda, both unrestrained at the time of the crash, sustained moderate injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Impairment on the part of Gardner is suspected. Toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers wish to remind motorists of the importance of making good decisions while in motor vehicles. Never drive impaired, fatigued, or distracted. Additionally, Louisiana law requires that every person inside a motor vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain properly restrained. While not all crashes are survivable, taking simple precautions like these can mean the difference between life and death.