Ronnie Shavers, 64, of Baker, died on November 4, 2026 after a Ford Escape struck him as he crossed Plank Road at Kent Drive. WBRZ reports that the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office identified Shavers the following morning.
Louisiana State Police say the collision occurred shortly after 6 p.m. Their preliminary investigation places a 2021 Ford Escape northbound in the right lane of LA 67 (Plank Road), while Shavers walked east across the northbound lanes. Troopers report that he entered the right lane and was struck. He died at the scene. The Ford’s driver was uninjured. Troopers do not suspect impairment, although routine toxicology testing is part of the investigation.
What Could the Driver See Before the Collision?
The initial police account identifies the direction of travel and lane involved but does not tell us how long Shavers was visible to the Ford’s driver, where the vehicle was when he approached the right lane, or whether a reasonably attentive driver had time to react. Those are central questions in evaluating this collision. Simply stating that a pedestrian entered a travel lane does not resolve civil responsibility.
The Evidence Most Important at Plank Road and Kent Drive
Original nearby video: Investigators should promptly identify any business, traffic or property cameras that show the northbound approach, Shavers’ movement across the lanes or the moments before impact. Original files, timestamps and camera locations matter.
Crossing layout and evening conditions: Document the precise crossing path, roadway widths, lane markings, available street lighting, sight distance and whether any crosswalk or pedestrian signal was actually present and operating. These details should be recorded as they existed shortly after 6 p.m. on November 4 rather than assumed from a later site visit.
The Ford Escape: Preserving the vehicle for photographs, damage measurements, physical evidence and any retrievable crash data may help reconstruct its approach and the driver’s response. Such data must be interpreted in conjunction with roadway and video evidence.
Police Findings and Civil Fault Are Different Questions
The preliminary collision narrative and any later criminal determination do not automatically decide a wrongful-death claim. Louisiana’s comparative-fault rules make an evidence-based assessment of each person’s conduct particularly important. Neither impairment nor a final civil fault allocation has been established publicly in this case.
For Ronnie Shavers’ Family
The family does not need to decide who was legally responsible before seeking an evaluation. Video can be overwritten, and vehicle evidence can change while an investigation is pending. If retained, Babcock Injury Lawyers would move to preserve the crossing evidence, review the reconstruction and identify potentially applicable insurance before assessing whether a claim exists. Our wrongful death resources and The Babcock Benefit explain that approach. Call (225) 500-5000 or contact the firm online for a confidential consultation. We do not claim to represent anyone involved.