42-Year-Old Franklin Martin Dies in Crash on Hwy 686

Troop I has investigated an unfortunate number of deaths so far in 2022 on the road. There have been 26 deaths as a result of 23 crashes this year, which is an updated total considering the incident involving 42 year-old Franklin Joseph Martin. 

Martin was behind the wheel of a 2017 Toyota Corolla on the morning of July 7 on Louisiana Highway 686 near Lynn Robin Road. While the cause of the accident has not been confirmed at this point, the car veered off of the highway and collided with an embankment and a culvert. When the Corolla was found, part of the car was underwater.

Trooper Thomas Gossen was the spokesperson for this accident, and communicated that a toxicology sample was obtained and is being processed. 

Unfortunately for the driver, he was not wearing a seatbelt during the ride which took place in the early hours of the day. He was confirmed dead at the scene of the incident.

This accident is another continued statistic in a larger trend of increased accidents in the state of Louisiana over the past couple of years. In 2021, a record number of motor vehicle crashes and deaths were reported, eclipsing a mark established in 2007. There were 997 fatalities reported in Louisiana last year.

“If travelers would obey the traffic laws, wear their seatbelts and be patient with one another, we could see these numbers go down considerably,” said Governor John Bel Edwards in a statement. Via WDSU.com

While it is uncertain whether the proper restraint would’ve saved Martin’s life, it could have at least restricted the force with which his body experienced impact.

As a community, we are hopeful that these figures will decrease and our roads will become safer as soon as possible. The Johnson Law Firm understands that during this uptick, there will be additional situations to serve Louisiana residents, and we will be here when you need us most. Feel free to give us a call at (337) 433-1414.