Loose trailer kills Ville Platte Man

A two-vehicle fatal crash on La.1171 north of Industrial Park Road in Evangeline Parish claimed the life of 43-year-old James Erwin of Ville Platte at about 11 a.m. Tuesday, a Louisiana State Police Troop I news release reported.
 A 2006 Ford F250 pickup truck, driven by a 16-year-old juvenile, was traveling northbound on La. 1171 towing a utility trailer hauling hay, police said.  A 2012 Ford F150 pickup truck, driven by Erwin, was southbound on La. 1171. 
As the Ford F250 pickup continued north on La. 1171 approaching the Ford F150, the utility trailer broke away from the Ford F250 and crossed the centerline, police said. The utility trailer and the Ford F150 hit head on in the southbound lane and, after the initial impact, the Ford F150 ran off of the roadway and overturned, police said.
 The driver of the Ford F250 was unaware the trailer broke away from his vehicle until he arrived at his destination approximately one mile from the crash scene, police said.
Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash.  The 16-year-old driver submitted to a chemical breath test and the results showed no signs of impairment, police said. Routine toxicology samples were taken from Erwin and submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime for analysis.  
Police said Erwin was not wearing a seat belt and suffered severe injuries.  He was transported to Mercy Regional Hospital by Acadian Ambulance where he later died from his injuries, police said.
The juvenile was cited with defective vehicle equipment, no safety chains and failure to transfer title of motor vehicle, police said.
This crash remains under investigation.