Local man, 22, hit, killed while riding bike

Published 6:00 am Thursday, January 10, 2019

JEANERETTE — A New Iberia man was killed Tuesday night when a pickup truck hit him while he was riding a bicycle along Louisiana 182 near Jeanerette High School.

According to a Louisiana State Police spokesman, Donald Henry, 32, was riding the bike eastbound in the westbound lane of Louisiana 182 when  Luke Cormier, 19, of Jeanerette, was driving a 2011 Ford F-150 eastbound on the highway. Cormier switched into the westbound lane and passed another eastbound vehicle in a no-passing zone. While traveling east in the westbound lane, Cormier struck Henry’s bicycle. 

Troopers said there were no street lights where the crash occurred. Henry was wearing a black jacket and black shorts. The bicycle did not have any lighting or reflectors.

Henry suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. 

Cormier tested negative for alcohol in a breathalyzer test. A toxicology sample taken from Henry will be submitted to the LSP Crime Lab for analysis. 

Cormier was cited for passing in a no passing zone. 

The crash remains under investigation.