Bastrop police are asking for help identifying the driver who struck and killed 59-year-old Kerry L. Johnson on Henry Avenue during the night of September 11 or the morning of September 12, 2026.
KNOE reported that the vehicle left the scene. Police had not released a vehicle description or identified a suspect when the report was published.
The Time Window Is Broad and the Vehicle Is Unknown
Bastrop police responded during the afternoon of September 12 and classified Johnson’s death as a pedestrian hit-and-run. The public report does not provide a precise collision time, make or model, direction of travel or witness description.
That makes outside evidence especially important. A person who traveled Henry Avenue during the relevant hours may have seen a pedestrian, a stopped vehicle, debris or a vehicle with fresh damage without realizing its significance.
Video, Vehicle Debris and Repair Records May Identify the Driver
Nearby homes and businesses should preserve original surveillance files from the entire possible time window. Even video that does not show the impact may capture a vehicle entering or leaving the area.
Paint, glass, plastic or lighting fragments may narrow the type of vehicle involved. Repair inquiries for a mirror, windshield, headlight or body damage made shortly after the collision may also help investigators.
Anyone with information should contact the Bastrop Police Department at 318-281-1322 or Crime Stoppers. Members of the public should not confront a suspected driver or publish an unverified accusation.
A Family Should Check UM Coverage While Police Search
A civil claim does not necessarily have to wait until the driver is identified. Louisiana Revised Statute 22:1295 may provide uninsured-motorist coverage in some hit-and-run cases, depending on the facts, policy language, insured status and proof that an unidentified vehicle caused the death.
Policies issued to Johnson, a resident relative or another qualifying insured may need review. Notice should be given according to the policy without guessing about facts the investigation has not established.
If the driver is later found, the vehicle’s liability coverage, ownership and permitted use will also matter.
Preserve the Police and Insurance Record
The family should obtain the incident number, keep coroner and funeral records together, identify potentially applicable automobile policies and retain every communication from insurers. Any available photographs, clothing or personal property from the scene should be preserved.
For help investigating coverage after a fatal hit-and-run, contact Babcock Injury Lawyers.
Sources
- KNOE: Bastrop police investigate fatal Henry Avenue hit-and-run
- La. R.S. 22:1295: Uninsured motorist coverage
- Louisiana Civil Code article 2315.1
- Louisiana Civil Code article 2315.2
Editorial & Legal Accuracy Notice (Louisiana)
This article is based on the linked KNOE report attributing the information to Bastrop police. The source reviewed did not identify a vehicle, driver or suspect or provide a precise collision time. This article is general information, not advice about a particular claim.