On December 9, 2024, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a single-vehicle crash on Chalmette Loop near Creole Circle. The crash claimed the life of 35-year-old Maria Lopez of Shreveport.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2012 Nissan SUV, driven by Lopez, was traveling north on Chalmette Loop. For reasons still under investigation, Lopez’s vehicle exited the roadway and collided with a residence.
Lopez, who was unrestrained at the time of the crash, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. A passenger, who was unrestrained in the front passenger seat, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. A 15-year-old juvenile, who was unrestrained in the rear passenger seat, sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The residence had a single occupant inside who was not injured.
Impairment on the part of Lopez is not suspected; however, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be 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 often mean the difference between life and death.