Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: January 24, 2006

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bicyclist killed in car accident

(sent to media via e-mail)

Shreveport police are investigating a crash that killed a bicyclist and sent another person to the hospital.

The 51-year-old New Orleans man (name is being withheld pending family notification) was riding a bicycle in the 3700 block of Greenwood when a pickup truck driven by 18-year-old Antonio Dukes hit him. According to witnesses, Dukes was driving erratically, crossed the center of the road and hit the bicyclist. Dukes' truck then hit a tree.

Both men were taken to LSU Hospital. However, the New Orleans man didn't make it. Dukes wasn't wearing a seat belt and hit the tree head on. His injuries are believed to be non life-threatening, although he has major facial injuries.

No charges have yet been filed, although chemical blood tests were taken as standard operating procedure in a fatality.

The victim is an evacuee from New Orleans. Officers are working to locate his family to inform them of his death.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews