State Police Investigating Motorcycle Crash In Lower St. Martin

A Pierre Part man was killed Friday afternoon after his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck while traveling on La. Highway 70.

Around 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon, Blake Melancon was traveling east on Highway 70 on a motorcycle when he collided with a pickup truck driven by 27-year-old Tressi Coupel, also of Pierre Part. According to Louisiana State Police, Coupel was making a left turn into a private driveway, straight into the path of Melancon's motorcycle, when the crash occurred. Melancon applied the brakes but, was unable to avoid impact and struck the right side of Coupel's vehicle.

LSP Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson said Melancon was wearing an Department of Transportation approved helmet, but suffered critical injuries nonetheless. He was air lifted to Baton Rouge's Our Lady of the Lake Hospital where he later died.

Coupel was cited with failure to yield, but further charges could be filed as the crash is still under investigation.

Impairment is not suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash.