Raymond Lexia Jr Obituary – A man has been apprehended and charged following a fatal head-on collision that occurred on Monday afternoon in Livingston Parish.
The Louisiana State Police have identified the deceased as Raymond Lexia Jr., a 47-year-old resident of Independence.
Mitchell Ballard, aged 35, faces charges of negligent homicide and careless operation related to the incident. He has been processed at the Livingston Parish Jail.
Prior to the collision, Lexia was operating a 2001 Ford Ranger traveling north on Louisiana Highway 43, while Ballard was heading south in a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe. The incident transpired before 6 p.m. on August 26, near Turkey Creek Road.
According to a statement from the Louisiana State Police, “For reasons still under investigation, the Chevrolet veered off the roadway, overcorrected, and crossed into the northbound lanes, colliding head-on with the Ford.”
Although Lexia was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. In contrast, Ballard, who was not wearing a seat belt, sustained minor injuries, as reported by the LSP.
While investigators do not currently suspect impairment as a contributing factor in this incident, standard toxicology samples will be collected for further analysis. The investigation into this matter is still ongoing.
