Early on Wednesday morning, November 5, 2025, the close-knit town of Navasota learned the devastating news that one of its own had been lost. Thirty-three-year-old John Acosta, a beloved son of the community, passed away in a single-vehicle crash in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. According to the Louisiana State Police (Troop D), the incident occurred just after 2:00 a.m. along Louisiana Highway 108 near Ron Hall Drive.
John was driving a 2025 GMC Denali pickup, heading southbound, when investigators say the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, veered off the road, hit multiple objects, and came to rest off the roadway. Despite wearing a seatbelt, he sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another report offered a slightly earlier time — around 1:15 a.m. — and specified that the crash occurred near a barrier outside a refinery on Cities Service Highway, the truck entering the grounds of a refinery owned by CITGO Petroleum Corporation near Lake Charles. No hazardous materials were released.
In the aftermath, officers collected routine toxicology samples as part of the investigation to determine if speed, impairment, distraction or any other factor played a role. The investigation remains ongoing. For Navasota, Texas — where John called home — the impact has been deeply personal.
Friends and neighbours describe John as a man whose kindness, loyal friendship and joyful spirit left a lasting impression. He was known for greeting others with an easy smile, devoting time to family and stepping up to help those around him. In every interaction, John made people feel seen and valued — whether he was sharing a laugh, lending a hand, or simply offering quiet encouragement.
He lived quietly with purpose: a hardworking individual who took pride in doing things right, cared for his younger brother and sister, and remained a steady presence in his parents’ lives. His generosity extended beyond home — neighbours recall how he would help fix things, look out for someone in need and always check in when someone was going through a rough patch.
Even in everyday moments, John made memories: afternoons at family gatherings, sharing stories under the big oak in the backyard, cruises in his pickup with friends singing along to old tunes, and impromptu barbecues where his laughter would rise above the smoke and chatter. He loved those simple occasions, and people say his presence made them feel warmer, safer and brighter.
The news of his passing has cast a heavy shadow over Navasota but also brought out its strongest side: coming together. As community members rally around John’s family, there’s been an outpouring of love — friends telling stories, neighbours leaving candles, and the church choir lifting voices high in remembrance. In sorrow there is solidarity, and in grief there is the promise to carry his memory forward.
Though John’s life was marked far too soon by tragedy, his memory will not fade. The legacy he leaves — of kindness, loyalty, unassuming joy and genuine care — will continue to ripple through the lives he touched. In the quiet hours of the morning and in the loud laughter of a friend’s memory, John Acosta remains.