Passenger dies after car collides with 18-wheeler. Police suspect car's driver impaired.

A Larose man died and another was injured today in a collision between a car and an 18-wheeler along La. 1 in Golden Meadow, police said.

State Police said 31-year-old Timothy Stevens died at a New Orleans-area hospital, where he had been taken after the crash.

Stevens was a passenger in a car driven by Zackery Santiny of Larose, who police said they suspect was driving impaired.

The crash occurred just before 2 a.m. about 6 miles north of A.O. Rappelet Road, the highway that leads to Port Fourchon, Troop C said in a news release.

Santiny was driving a 2009 Pontiac G6 north on La. 1 and crossed the centerline into the path of a 2012 Freightliner that was heading south.

"The driver of the Freightliner attempted to avoid a collision by steering to the right but was struck by the Pontiac," Troop C said.

A day earlier:Three die after two cars collide along La. 308 in Lafourche Parish

Neither Santiny nor Stevens was wearing a seat belt. Both were taken to a New Orleans-area hospital for treatment, State Police said. The Freightliner’s driver, who also was not wearing a seat belt, suffered minor injuries.

"Impairment on the part of Santiny is suspected and a toxicology sample was collected for analysis," Troop C said in the news release. "The Freightliner’s driver was not suspected of being impaired and provided a valid breath sample that shown no alcohol present."

It was the second fatal crash in as many days on Lafourche Parish highways. On Sunday, three people were killed after two cars collided along La. 308 in Lockport, State Police said. The crash occurred about 5 a.m. about half a mile south of the Bellevue Bridge.

Troop C has investigated 25 fatal crashes resulting in 29 deaths in 2022.

— Courier and Daily Comet Executive Editor Keith Magill can be reached at 857-2201 or keith.magill@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @CourierEditor.