The East Baton Rouge Parish community is mourning after a devastating single-vehicle crash Monday night in the Gardere area claimed the lives of three people. The tragic accident has left family, friends, and residents shaken as they struggle to process the sudden loss of life.
According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred around 8:40 p.m. on April 6, 2026, south of Gardere Lane on River Road, near the east bank of the Mississippi River levee. Investigators reported that a northbound vehicle failed to navigate a curve, left the roadway, and struck a utility pole. Authorities noted that speed may have been a contributing factor, and toxicology tests are pending.
Two victims, 20-year-old Zacariah Johnson and 15-year-old Marquis Duncan Jr., were pronounced dead at the scene. A third victim, a 30-year-old man, was initially transported to a local hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries. His identity has not yet been released as authorities notify next of kin.
Emergency crews from the St. George Fire Department closed River Road from L’Auberge Crossing to the parish line to secure the scene and direct traffic to alternate routes. The area is near the L’Auberge Casino and Hotel, a well-known landmark along the Mississippi River.
The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, with assistance from other local agencies. Officials have not released the make or model of the vehicle, the total number of occupants, or additional details about the crash, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing and any new findings will be shared with the public.
The Gardere community, an unincorporated area of roughly 10,500 residents about eight miles south of downtown Baton Rouge, has been deeply affected by the loss. Residents and loved ones are left grieving as the parish, which has approximately 460,000 people and is a key transportation hub intersected by Interstate 10 and Interstate 12, reflects on the tragedy. Authorities continue to investigate and urge anyone with information to come forward.
