In the darkness of a late summer night, tragedy struck on a stretch of Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, claiming the life of 77-year-old Clyde Butler, a beloved New Orleans resident. The clock had just ticked past 11 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, when the stillness of the night was shattered by a devastating single-vehicle crash near the LA 73 exit in Geismar. The Louisiana State Police (LSP), now piecing together the heartbreaking puzzle, are working tirelessly to uncover what led to this fatal incident.
Butler, a man whose years were rich with stories and experiences, was behind the wheel of his 2003 Ford F-150, navigating the familiar lanes of I-10 East. For reasons that remain cloaked in mystery, his truck veered off the roadway, careening into a guardrail and striking a bridge railing with violent force. The impact sent the vehicle tumbling, flipping multiple times in a chaotic spiral. The LSP reports that Butler, unrestrained by a seat belt, was partially ejected from the truck during the rollover—a grim detail that underscores the fragility of life in such moments. Despite the rapid response of Acadian Ambulance and other emergency personnel, Butler was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a void felt deeply by those who knew him.
The crash, which occurred around 11:15 p.m., brought I-10 East to a standstill, with the roadway closed until approximately 1:20 a.m. as troopers and responders worked under the weight of the somber scene. No other vehicles were involved, and no additional injuries were reported, but the loss of Butler’s life cast a heavy shadow over the night. The LSP’s preliminary investigation has yet to pinpoint why the truck left the roadway. Was it a moment of distraction, a sudden medical emergency, fatigue from a long day, or the influence of impairment? These questions linger as investigators await the results of routine toxicology tests, which will be analyzed as part of the coroner’s report.
Rollover crashes, like the one that claimed Butler’s life, are among the most lethal on America’s highways. The LSP notes that pickup trucks and SUVs, with their higher centers of gravity, are particularly prone to catastrophic outcomes in such accidents. In 2023, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that 41% of motor vehicle crash deaths nationwide occurred in rural areas like Ascension Parish, where I-10 winds through open stretches of road. The absence of a seat belt, a simple yet critical safety measure, often turns survivable incidents into tragedies. “Seat belts remain the most effective protection against fatal injuries in rollovers,” the LSP emphasized in a statement, a sobering reminder of the stakes on every drive.
As news of Butler’s passing rippled through Ascension Parish and his hometown of New Orleans, communities united in grief. Friends and neighbors remembered him as a vibrant soul, a man whose 77 years were marked by kindness and connection. His death adds to Louisiana’s troubling tally of traffic fatalities in 2025, a stark reminder of the dangers that lurk on the state’s highways, particularly during the quiet hours of late-night travel. The LSP continues to investigate, combing through evidence and seeking answers to bring closure to Butler’s loved ones and clarity to the circumstances of that fateful night.
For now, the stretch of I-10 near LA 73 stands as a silent witness to a life cut short, urging every driver to buckle up, stay vigilant, and cherish the fleeting moments that define our journeys. The Louisiana State Police have promised to release further details as their investigation unfolds, hoping to shed light on this tragedy and prevent others from meeting a similar fate.