NEW IBERIA, La. — A tragic crash on Saturday evening resulted in the death of a New Iberia man. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. near the intersection of Louisiana Highways 88 and 89, when a bicycle and a truck collided.
According to Louisiana State Police Troop I, 39-year-old Timothy Maturin Jr. was riding his bicycle west on Highway 88. A 2019 Ford F-150, traveling in the same direction, struck Maturin’s bike from behind. The impact caused Maturin to suffer fatal injuries, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the truck was not suspected of impairment, as no alcohol was detected in their breath sample. A standard toxicology sample has been collected from Maturin, but police have not yet revealed any additional details. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
Authorities noted that Maturin was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Additionally, his bicycle was not equipped with the required safety lighting or reflectors. Louisiana law mandates that bicycles be equipped with a white front light, a red rear light, and reflectors for visibility, especially when riding at night. These safety measures, which include a rear reflector visible from 100 feet away and side-mounted reflectors visible from 100 to 600 feet, were not present on Maturin’s bicycle.
State Police reminded the public of the importance of bicycle safety and adherence to traffic laws, particularly those regarding lighting and reflectors, to help prevent such tragic accidents in the future. The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to gather information surrounding the crash.