A crash early Friday morning in Madison Parish claimed the life of 49-year-old Howard L. Brooks of Brandon, Mississippi.
The preliminary investigation by Louisiana State Police indicated a 2014 GMC Acadia driven by Brooks was traveling west on Louisiana Highway 602 near Hodge Road. For reasons still under investigation, the GMC SUV left the roadway and impacted a utility pole. After the initial impact, the vehicle then overturned and ejected Brooks.
Brooks, who was unrestrained, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Madison Parish Coroner’s Office.
A toxicology sample was obtained and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
Although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, Troopers remind the public that inattentive and distracted driving is dangerous and is a leading cause of crashes in our state. It is also important for motorists to take a few seconds and buckle up, failure to do so can have devastating consequences.
In 2023, troopers assigned to Troop F have investigated 10 fatal crashes resulting in 11 fatalities.
