Correction and update, September 24, 2026: Tommy Gowan, 74, of Texas, was driving the vehicle involved in the September 21 crash at Buncombe and Simpson Roads in west Caddo Parish. The earlier version of this article said the available reporting did not establish whether Gowan was the driver or a passenger.
A KTAL/KMSS report carried by AOL identifies Gowan as the driver and says officials had not determined whether he died from injuries caused by the crash or from a medical emergency. The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause of death.
What the Reports Establish
Caddo Parish sheriff’s deputies responded to the single-vehicle crash near Buncombe and Simpson Roads on September 21, 2026. Caddo Fire District personnel took Gowan to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, where he was pronounced dead at 8:14 p.m.
KSLA reported, citing the Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office, that an autopsy was ordered. The Sheriff’s Office and coroner continue to investigate.
The reports do not identify the vehicle or explain how it left the road, what it struck or where it came to rest. They also do not say whether anyone else was inside.
Why the Cause-of-Death Question Matters
The distinction between a medical emergency and crash injuries is not a technical detail. It determines whether the collision caused Gowan’s death, followed a medical event or involved some combination of the two. The autopsy, medical records and physical crash evidence may help investigators answer that question.
Neither report identifies another driver or other person whose conduct contributed to the crash. It would be premature to suggest a defective vehicle, unsafe road or another liability theory without evidence supporting it.
The vehicle should be preserved until investigators document its condition. The sheriff’s report, scene photographs, witness accounts and medical findings may provide facts that the short public reports do not.
For help reviewing a fatal Louisiana crash once the underlying records are available, contact Babcock Injury Lawyers.
Sources
- KTAL/KMSS via AOL: Tommy Gowan identified as the driver; cause of death remains under investigation
- KSLA: Texas man dies after Buncombe Road crash
Editorial & Legal Accuracy Notice (Louisiana)
This article is based on the linked reports attributing information to the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office. The vehicle, crash sequence and cause of death have not been publicly established. This article provides general information and is not legal advice about an individual claim.