The Caddo Coroner’s Office has identified a Minden man who died in a two-vehicle crash that occurred on Saturday, October 31 at approximately 2:07 p.m. near the intersection of Hollywood Avenue and Bethune Drive.
Patrol officers responded to reports of a major crash involving multiple individuals who were ejected from a vehicle. The man pronounced dead was identified as 37-year-old Dennis Lastrapes of Minden. He was deceased at Ocshner’s LSU Health.
Upon arrival at the crash site, officers located two heavily damaged vehicles and several seriously injured individuals.
The Shreveport Fire Department responded and transported all four individuals involved to Ochsner LSU Health for emergency medical treatment.
Preliminary findings from the Shreveport Police Department’s Crash Investigation Unit indicate that one vehicle was traveling westbound on Hollywood Avenue at an extremely high rate of speed when a second vehicle pulled onto Hollywood Avenue from Bethune Drive, attempting to turn eastbound. The westbound vehicle struck the second vehicle, causing all three occupants of that vehicle to be ejected. Investigators determined that the occupants were not wearing seatbelts and that a child safety seat was not being used.
The driver of the second vehicle – Lastrapes – was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. An adult passenger and a juvenile passenger remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the westbound vehicle was also transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
Due to the circumstances surrounding the crash, the Shreveport Police Department’s DWI Unit responded to assist with the investigation. The driver of the westbound vehicle voluntarily submitted a blood sample, which will be sent to the North Louisiana Crime Lab for analysis. At this time, investigators have not determined whether impairment was a factor.
Crash investigators documented and processed the scene. The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office responded and took possession of the deceased. The victim’s family has been notified.
This crash remains under active investigation. Investigators are working to determine all contributing factors, including speed and possible impairment.