Louisiana State Police described two crashes on I-10 west near Grosse Tete on February 10, 2026. A Chevrolet Silverado first crashed and became disabled across both westbound lanes. A box truck struck it a short time later. Nathan Smiling, 60, of Breaux Bridge, died at the scene. The February 10 account does not explain what caused the first crash, how long the pickup blocked the lanes, or what the box-truck driver could see before impact.
Those gaps matter. A collision with a disabled vehicle is not resolved simply by calling it a rear-end crash or by noting that the vehicle was in a travel lane. The sequence, visibility, warnings, and each driver’s opportunity to respond require separate evidence.
What the official account establishes
Troopers reported that the 2010 Silverado was involved in a single-vehicle crash shortly before 2 a.m. near milepost 128 in Iberville Parish. It then blocked both westbound lanes. A westbound 2013 International box truck struck the pickup. State Police said Mr. Smiling was unrestrained and ejected, and that the box-truck driver was properly restrained and sustained minor injuries. Troopers described impairment as suspected, said routine toxicology samples would be taken and submitted for analysis, and reported no charges pending in the February 10 release. The investigation was still open when that release was issued. Read the Louisiana State Police release.
WBRZ’s February 10 traffic report said the westbound closure extended from LA 415 at Lobdell to LA 3177 at Butte La Rose. It reported that I-10 had reopened by 5:25 a.m. that morning.
Suspected impairment is not a toxicology result. Nor does the release establish whether the initial crash, the later impact, or both caused any particular injury. The official account should be treated as preliminary unless investigators publish further findings.
The two-stage timeline is the central evidence question
The time between the Silverado’s first crash and the box truck’s arrival could affect several different issues. If the pickup stopped almost immediately before the impact, the approaching driver may have had little warning. If it remained there longer, the condition of its lights, the roadway’s sight distance, other traffic, and any calls to 911 become more important. Those are questions to investigate, not conclusions about either driver.
Scroll horizontally to see all columns. Use the arrow keys when the table is focused.
| Record | What it may clarify |
|---|---|
| 911 audio, dispatch logs, and radio traffic | When the obstruction was first reported and what responders knew before the second impact. |
| Traffic-camera or passing-vehicle video | How the pickup sat in the lanes, whether its lights were visible, and the interval between crashes. |
| Vehicle inspections and electronic data | The condition of the Silverado after the first crash and the box truck’s speed, braking, or other recorded actions, if those systems retained usable data. |
| Scene measurements, photographs, and witness accounts | Sight distance, lighting, traffic, debris positions, and what a driver approaching milepost 128 could perceive. |
These sources do not all use the same clock. Investigators should reconcile timestamps before presenting a second-by-second sequence. The firm’s discussion of preserving truck-crash records explains why requests should identify the vehicle, carrier, and any outside data custodian promptly.
A death claim still requires proof of fault and causation
A family may need to distinguish a survival action under Civil Code article 2315.1, which concerns harm sustained by the injured person, from a wrongful-death action under article 2315.2, which concerns eligible relatives’ losses resulting from death. Both have specific beneficiary and timing rules. Neither claim is established merely because a fatal crash occurred. The evidence must connect legally responsible conduct to the claimed harm.
Louisiana’s comparative-fault law may also matter when more than one act contributed to a loss. The version effective January 1, 2026 generally bars recovery by a person assigned at least 51 percent negligence; lower percentages generally reduce damages proportionately. The article separately addresses claims against an intentional tortfeasor. The police report’s description of restraint use does not, by itself, allocate fault or prove how this collision caused the death. Applicable evidence rules and medical proof would need separate attention.
The Louisiana wrongful-death and survival guide addresses who may bring each claim and the evidence those claims require. Families should also obtain the complete crash investigation rather than relying only on the initial news release. Louisiana State Police says fatal crash reports are not available through its ordinary online crash-report portal; contact the investigating troop about the fatal-crash report and use the public-records request channel as directed for additional material. Access depends on the record and the requester; a request does not guarantee release.
Care and records after a recent crash
Get needed emergency help and medical care before gathering evidence. Preserve photographs, witness contacts, tow and storage details, and insurer correspondence only when safe and through lawful access. Do not enter an interstate travel lane or restricted storage area to document a vehicle. Review the actual liability and any uninsured or underinsured motorist policies; the news account does not establish coverage.
Help obtaining and understanding records
Babcock Injury Lawyers can help families request the proper report, identify potential video and witnesses, and communicate with insurers while they focus on their family. We assess what the evidence supports and explain unresolved questions without promising an outcome. Contact the firm with the records you have.
For a confidential discussion of the I-10 crash and available records, call Babcock Injury Lawyers at 225-500-5000.
About the author
Stephen Babcock is a Louisiana trial lawyer who handles serious personal injury and wrongful-death matters.
Sources and accuracy
Earlier source-check date: September 28, 2026. The primary crash account is the Louisiana State Police release dated February 10, 2026. The linked Louisiana Civil Code provisions were checked against the current Legislature text. The police account remains preliminary; this article does not state that any driver or company was at fault.
Earlier review date: September 28, 2026.
Correction history: On September 23, 2026, the article corrected Mr. Smiling’s age to 60 and the Silverado’s model year to 2010 to match the State Police release.
To report a factual correction, email [email protected].