Alexandria – On Saturday (April 19, 2025), shortly before 2:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop E began investigating a single-vehicle fatality crash on Louisiana Highway 498 (England Drive) and Powell Lane. The crash ultimately claimed the lives of 30-year-old Brandon Wright of Pineville and 33-year-old Aaron Watson of Amite.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee was northbound on MacArthur Drive while in the city limits of Alexandria. A Trooper with Troop E observed the Jeep swerving in and out of its lane of travel and attempted to conduct a traffic stop for improper lane usage. The driver refused to stop, initiated a pursuit, and continued fleeing westbound on LA Hwy 498 at a high rate of speed. The Trooper ultimately lost sight of the Jeep. Approximately 50 minutes later, while searching the Jeep’s last known path, the Trooper discovered the vehicle down an embankment and partially submerged in a bayou after it exited the roadway in a curve.
Upon recovery of the vehicle, Wright and Watson were found to be unrestrained at the time of the crash. Both sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene. Routine toxicology samples are pending analysis.
The Louisiana State Police Force Investigation Unit is assisting, and the crash remains under investigation.
Speeding, impairment, and lack of seatbelt use continue to be the leading causes of fatal crashes. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a situation. Additionally, while not all crashes are survivable, wearing a seatbelt greatly reduces the chances of being killed or seriously injured in a crash.
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