A tragic secondary crash claimed the life of 26-year-old Austin B. Gentry of Independence on Saturday night March 28, 2026 on the southbound lanes of Interstate 55 just south of LA 442 in Tangipahoa Parish near Tickfaw, Louisiana.
Louisiana State Police Troop L responded to the initial crash involving Gentry’s vehicle on the southbound side of the interstate around 11 p.m. While waiting for emergency responders Gentry exited his vehicle and attempted to cross the northbound lanes of the busy highway. A 2010 Toyota Corolla traveling northbound struck him causing fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders in this rural stretch of I-55 that carries heavy traffic between Hammond and Ponchatoula.
The initial crash on the southbound side of Interstate 55 had left Gentry’s vehicle disabled prompting him to leave the roadway and cross to the opposite side. Troopers noted that the secondary pedestrian crash occurred as he attempted to flag down help or cross the northbound lanes in the dark conditions near LA 442.
The Toyota Corolla driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. No other injuries were reported from the secondary crash on I-55 southbound just south of LA 442 in Tangipahoa Parish. The highway was closed for several hours while troopers processed both scenes and cleared debris.
Austin B. Gentry was a 26-year-old resident of Independence known to family and friends for his positive outlook and community ties in Tangipahoa Parish. His sudden death in the secondary crash has left loved ones in profound grief as they process the loss of a young man whose life ended on the interstate near Tickfaw. The incident has drawn attention across the parish where residents have expressed sorrow over the preventable nature of the pedestrian crossing on a high-speed highway like I-55.
Louisiana State Police Troop L continues its active investigation into the March 28 crashes on Interstate 55 just south of LA 442 in Tangipahoa Parish. Troopers are examining the initial vehicle crash and the subsequent pedestrian strike to determine all contributing factors including visibility road conditions and driver actions. No charges have been filed as the probe remains ongoing with emphasis on gathering witness statements and physical evidence from the southbound lanes near Tickfaw.
The Tangipahoa Parish community has been left shaken by the fatal pedestrian crash on Interstate 55 near LA 442 with residents calling for greater awareness around highway safety after dark. Family and friends have shared tributes highlighting Gentry’s kind nature while the broader area processes the loss in this rural stretch of the interstate. The incident has prompted reflections on the dangers of leaving disabled vehicles and crossing busy lanes in the Tickfaw region.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage from Interstate 55 southbound just south of LA 442 around 11 p.m. on March 28 is urged to contact Louisiana State Police Troop L to assist the ongoing investigation. The case remains open as troopers work to provide clarity for the family of Austin B. Gentry following the tragic events on the highway in Tangipahoa Parish near Tickfaw. The community continues to mourn the young man whose life was cut short in the secondary crash on I-55.