On a quiet Monday before dawn, 24-year-old Dentreal A. Mouton lost his life after walking along Interstate 12 in St. Tammany Parish. The Louisiana State Police confirmed the tragic incident occurred at about 1:20 a.m. just west of the La. 1249 exit on westbound I-12. The news has now rippled through both his hometown of Lafayette and the surrounding communities, leaving many shaken and full of questions.
According to LSP, Mouton was walking in the same direction as traffic in the left lane when a 2019 Honda Accord struck him from behind. Despite the rapid response of emergency crews, he succumbed to severe injuries at the scene. The driver of the vehicle was reported unharmed. The State Police are treating the case as a single-vehicle pedestrian crash, meaning no other cars were involved.
Investigators have taken toxicology samples from both the Honda’s driver and Mouton himself, hoping to determine if impairment could have played a role. They’re also examining road conditions — lighting, visibility, signage — and reviewing any available surveillance or third-party footage. So far, no formal charges have been filed, and officials haven’t confirmed whether speed, distraction, or other factors contributed to the collision.
Scene investigators are carefully documenting everything: skid marks, sight lines, interviewing potential witnesses, even measuring whether the pedestrian had any chance to move out of danger. An LSP spokesperson emphasized, “Our goal is to determine exactly what happened and help prevent similar incidents in the future.”
Meanwhile, in Lafayette and beyond, grief has set in. Friends and family remember Mouton as a warm, hardworking young man who was deeply tied to his community. “He was loved by everyone who knew him,” one friend said. The suddenness of his passing has left many bracing for how to move on. Local churches and community groups have begun mobilizing support for his family.
State troopers are asking drivers and pedestrians alike to stay alert — especially in the early morning hours when visibility is low. Motorists are urged to watch for anything unusual on roadways, and pedestrians are strongly discouraged from walking on interstates. Anyone with information about that night — no matter how small — is urged to contact the Louisiana State Police to assist in bringing clarity to this heartbreaking loss.
As the investigation continues, the community is left grappling with the void of a life cut short and searching for answers in the dark, quiet stretch of highway where everything changed.