Shreveport awoke Monday with sorrow, as news broke that Jerry Williams, a 62-year-old local known for his warm heart and willingness to help others, lost his life in a violent head-on crash on North Market Street. The fatal wreck happened around 10:00 a.m. near Poleman Road and left a community stunned and grieving.
Emergency crews responded quickly after multiple 911 calls flagged a collision involving two trucks in the 3500-block of North Market. When officers and medics arrived, they discovered two badly smashed vehicles blocking lanes of traffic. Despite tireless efforts to revive him, Williams was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver of the other truck was rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
Preliminary findings from the Shreveport Police indicate that the crash was a head-on collision. Investigators say a blue Ram 1500 heading north abruptly turned from the center lane — crossing into the path of a southbound Chevy Avalanche — causing the two trucks to collide directly. The Avalanche driver, later confirmed to be Jerry Williams, did not survive. The Ram driver remains hospitalized, and police have not publicly released his identity or update on his recovery.
The Shreveport Police Traffic Division has launched a full investigation. Detectives are collecting witness statements, analyzing skid marks and vehicle damage, and scouring surveillance footage from nearby businesses to piece together exactly what led to the disaster. Roads in the area were closed for hours while crews cleared debris and gathered evidence.
Locals who knew Williams are struggling to come to terms with his loss. Descriptions of him emphasize a gentle, generous spirit: someone who would stop to help a stranger, who was always ready to lend a hand. One neighbor described him simply: “He was one of the kindest people you could meet.” Many have turned to social media to share stories, photos, and condolences. His sudden death has left a heavy silence in the North Shreveport neighborhood. (From your text: “He was one of the kindest people you could meet … He would always stop to help anyone.”)
The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office has confirmed that an autopsy will be performed, as is standard in traffic fatalities, to establish precise cause of death and contribute key findings to the investigation. From your report, that autopsy confirmation is part of the official procedure. Meanwhile, police are urging anyone who may have seen the crash, or who has dashcam or surveillance video, to come forward and contact the Traffic Division.
This tragedy is a sharp reminder of how quickly life can shift, and how precious each moment is. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of staying alert on the road, obeying traffic laws, and exercising extreme caution—especially during busy morning hours when the margin for error is slim. For the community mourning Jerry Williams, the hope is that his memory will serve as a reminder: we owe it to ourselves and one another to drive with care.
If you have any new information, images, or video related to the crash, please reach out to the Shreveport Police Traffic Division. The family and community are waiting, praying, and watching as investigators work to bring clarity and some measure of justice in this painful chapter.