Louisiana Roadway Site of Heartbreaking Motorcycle Crash

Louisiana law enforcement officials were called out to the scene of a deadly motorcycle crash that happened on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 26, when the motorcycle collided with a semi.

What Were The Circumstances Surrounding The Crash?

According to officials with the Louisiana State Police, the preliminary investigation determined that a 59-year-old man decided to pull off on the shoulder of the road to swing back into the lanes of travel to make a U-turn, and that's when the crash happened.

A German man by the name of Jurgen Sauerwein of Munster, Germany, was driving down Louisiana Highway 12 in Calcasieu Parish when he decided to pull onto the shoulder of the eastbound roadway to make his U-turn. He was planning to turn around to get into the westbound lane of travel.

At the same time he pulled off the shoulder of the road onto the eastbound side to make his turn, the semi-truck was also in the eastbound lane.

What Other Information Is Known About The Crash?

Sauerwein's motorcycle slammed into the side of a semi-truck. According to Trooper First Class Matt Gaspard with the Public Affairs Section of Louisiana State Police, Sauerwing was wearing a DOT-approved helmet when the collision happened.

The man's injuries were so severe that he was pronounced dead by the coroner's office at the scene of the crash.

The driver of the truck was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured due to the crash.

As is standard in these types of cases, standard toxicology samples were taken from both drivers. They will be submitted to a lab to be analyzed.

What Do Troopers Want Drivers To Know?

• Officials remind all drivers never to let anything distract them while driving.
• Don't drive if you are impaired by any substance.
• Everyone in a vehicle must be wearing a seat belt. 
• They recommend all motorcycle riders take an approved safety course.

For information on safety courses available through the Louisiana State Police, you can click here.

The investigation into this crash is ongoing.

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