Update, September 23, 2026: The Iberville Parish Coroner’s Office has identified the pedestrian as James Berthelot, 69, of Plaquemine.
Berthelot died after a Chevrolet Silverado struck him while he was retrieving mail along LA 75 in Iberville Parish on September 21, 2026, according to Louisiana State Police.
The State Police release places Berthelot near the southbound edge of the road and says he was struck in the roadway. The key factual question is where he and the truck were in the seconds before impact, and whether the driver had time and distance to see and avoid him.
The Reported Crash on LA 75
Troop A began investigating shortly before 4 p.m. The preliminary account says a 2024 Silverado was traveling south just below LA 404 while Berthelot was retrieving mail near the southbound roadside edge. State Police said the truck struck him in the roadway.
Berthelot was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died. The Silverado’s driver was restrained and was not injured.
State Police said impairment was unknown and that standard toxicology samples would be collected from both men. That is an investigative step, not a finding that either person was impaired.
WBRZ reported Berthelot’s identification on September 23, citing the Iberville Parish Coroner’s Office. The outlet placed the collision near the Bayou Pigeon Library.
The Important Question Is What the Driver Could See
The public reports do not explain whether Berthelot had stepped into the travel lane, how far he was from the mailbox, or how long he had been visible before impact. They also do not give the Silverado’s speed or describe braking or steering before the collision.
Those details matter more than a long list of possibilities. Scene measurements can show the location of the mailbox, the width of the shoulder and the available sight distance. Damage to the truck and any roadway marks may help place the point of impact. Nearby video or a witness who saw the approach could answer questions that the short release cannot.
Louisiana Law Requires Due Care Around Pedestrians
Louisiana Revised Statute 32:214 requires a driver to exercise due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian and to give a warning when necessary. Applying that rule here depends on Berthelot’s location and visibility, the truck’s speed and the driver’s opportunity to react.
Because this collision occurred in 2026, Civil Code article 2323 generally bars recovery if the injured person’s assigned fault reaches 51 percent and reduces damages proportionately below that threshold. Retrieving mail near a road does not answer the fault question by itself. The evidence must establish what each person actually did.
If another person’s fault caused the death, Louisiana’s wrongful-death and survival-action provisions may be relevant. Beneficiary status, the medical course and the available insurance require individual review.
Preserve the Truck, Scene and Nearby Video
The most useful immediate steps are to obtain the Troop A report number, locate the Silverado and request preservation before repair, and photograph the mailbox, roadway edge and sight lines before the area changes. Any nearby surveillance should be requested before routine overwriting.
Medical, funeral and insurance records should be kept together. A family should understand the scope of any release before signing it.
For help evaluating a fatal pedestrian collision or preserving time-sensitive evidence, contact Babcock Injury Lawyers.
Sources
- Louisiana State Police: Pedestrian Killed in Iberville Parish Crash
- WBRZ: Coroner identifies James Berthelot
- La. R.S. 32:214: Drivers to exercise due care
- Louisiana Civil Code article 2323
- Louisiana Civil Code article 2315.1
- Louisiana Civil Code article 2315.2
Editorial & Legal Accuracy Notice (Louisiana)
This article is based on the preliminary State Police release and WBRZ’s report citing the Iberville Parish Coroner’s Office. The precise point of impact, toxicology results and final investigative findings remain unresolved. This article provides general information and is not legal advice about an individual claim.