Gonzales, LA (5/18/2024) – On May 18, 2024, shortly after 6:00 am, Louisiana State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash on LA 3251 near Lawrence Minor Road. The crash resulted in the death of 35-year-old Niles R. Bartholomew of Baton Rouge.
Investigators determined that a 2003 GMC Envoy driven by Bartholomew was traveling southbound on LA 3251 when it veered off the road to the left. The vehicle entered a ditch and overturned.
Bartholomew was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle. He sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Impairment is unknown but toxicology samples were collected for analysis.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
While not all accidents are survivable, statistics show that wearing a seatbelt significantly reduces the risk of serious injury or death. Louisiana law mandates that all vehicle occupants, regardless of seating position, buckle up at all times. Wearing a seatbelt is one of the most effective ways to stay safe and minimize injuries in a crash.
