A tragic single-vehicle crash early Saturday morning claimed the life of 40-year-old Joey Washington of Sibley, after his pickup truck veered off the road and erupted in flames.

Louisiana State Police said the crash occurred around 2:45 a.m. on August 24 along U.S. Highway 371 near Yellow Pine Road. Investigators determined that Washington was traveling northbound in a 2020 Ford F-150 when the vehicle left the roadway, descended an embankment, and struck a tree. The violent impact triggered a fire that engulfed the truck.

Emergency crews arrived quickly but found the vehicle fully involved in flames. Washington, trapped inside, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether he was restrained at the time.

The Louisiana State Police Crash Team is investigating the cause, reviewing possible factors such as impairment, fatigue, speed, or mechanical failure.

Washington’s sudden passing has left his family and the Sibley community heartbroken, as they mourn the loss of a beloved man whose life ended far too soon.