A 72-year-old man driving a tractor westbound on Hwy. 22 near River Parishes Community College died Friday afternoon when struck from behind by an SUV, according to Sorrento Police.
Assistant Chief Billy Ballard said Carlton "Blackie" LeBlanc of Sorrento “passed at the scene” and was pronounced dead by the Parish Coroner.
LeBlanc was driving about 15 mph around 4:25 p.m. when a black Chrysler Aspen SUV driven by Joseph Allen Sherman of Donaldsonville ran into the back of the tractor at a speed of between 55 and 60 mph, Ballard said.
LeBlanc’s tractor was equipped with lights and a slow-moving rear placard, Ballard said.
The SUV driver said he looked away, then looked up and did not have time to react to the tractor in front of him, Ballard said.
Sherman’s 9-year-old daughter was riding in the front passenger seat of the SUV at the time of the accident, according to Ballard.
Sherman was charged at the scene with negligent homicide, pending a toxicology report, Ballard said.
Traffic on both the east and westbound lanes of Hwy. 22 was closed from around 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Ballard said.
