Vernon Parish, LA — March 12, 2025, Christopher Authement was killed in a truck accident at about 10:20 a.m. on westbound State Highway 28/Alexandia Highway.

Authorities said a 2017 Hyundai crashed into the back of a 2019 International semi-truck that was loaded with logs.

Hyundai driver Christopher D. Authement, 54, of Florien died in the crash near State Highway 465, according to authorities.

The truck driver was not injured.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Vernon Parish crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

Crashes where a passenger vehicle collides with the back of a semi-truck often raise serious concerns about visibility, stopping distance, and whether the truck was properly marked. In this case, reports indicate that a Hyundai crashed into the back of a logging truck on State Highway 28. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to driver inattention, poor visibility or whether the parked or slow-moving truck created an unavoidable hazard.

One of the first questions investigators should answer is whether the logging truck was moving at the time of the crash. If the semi-truck was stopped or moving slowly, visibility becomes a critical issue. Logging trucks, especially when loaded, often extend beyond the rear of the trailer. If the logs were not properly marked with reflective materials or warning flags, the Hyundai driver may not have had enough time to react.

Investigators should also consider whether road conditions played a role. Was the highway wet or slippery? Were there visibility issues due to fog, glare, or obstructions? If the roadway itself contributed to the crash, that should be closely examined.

At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on who hit whom without investigating why the Hyundai driver did not stop in time — whether due to visibility issues, distraction or road conditions — they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a full understanding of what went wrong.