A fatal crash on a highway has left one pedestrian dead according to authorities. Louisiana State Police have reported that a car accident on U.S. 171 resulted in the death of a 60-year-old man who was said to have been walking along the road. Police investigations are ongoing.

According to preliminary reports, around 10 p.m. the man was walking in the outside southbound lane of 171 when a pickup truck driven by a 33-year-old Louisiana resident struck the man. The driver, who was wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision, was unharmed in the crash. The pedestrian was later pronounced dead.

Police are still investigating possible causes of the crash. According to their findings so far, the 60-year-old was dressed in dark clothing at the time of the accident. As of this writing, they are awaiting the results of toxicology reports to determine if intoxication was a factor in the accident.

Louisiana, as most states, has strict rules of conduct for drivers and pedestrians alike, but ultimately the onus for safety lies primarily on the driver. While it is possible the victim's dark clothing may have rendered him difficult to see, the driver also must observe a duty of reasonable care to others in or near the roadway. Depending upon the results of the police investigation into the car accident, any suggestion of driver negligence may make it possible for the victim's next of kin to pursue legal recourse against the driver of the pickup truck. A thorough knowledge of the state and local statutes regarding rules of the road may be helpful in building such a case.

Source: kplctv.com, "Pedestrian killed in Vernon Parish crash," Elona Weston, April 3, 2013