A Texas man was killed in a fiery single-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 518 near Hoodtown Road, according to Louisiana State Police Troop G.

The victim, identified as 62-year-old Leonard Melton of Troup, Texas, was driving east on Highway 518 in a 2019 Ford F-150 when, for reasons still under investigation, the vehicle veered off the roadway. The truck struck an embankment, overturned, and became engulfed in flames.

Authorities responded to the crash at approximately 4:45 a.m. Melton sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. It remains unclear whether he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Although impairment is not suspected, toxicology samples have been collected for further analysis as the investigation continues.

Louisiana State Police remind all drivers to stay vigilant and follow traffic laws to prevent tragedies on the road. While not all crashes are survivable, wearing a seatbelt and practicing safe driving habits can often mean the difference between life and death.