On April 19, at approximately 6:00 pm, the Hammond Police Department was dispatched to an accident with injury involving a motorcycle on I-55 northbound, just south of Highway 190.
The crash claimed the life of 36 YO Justin Smith of Amite.
During the investigation, HPD Officers determined that Smith was riding a 2012 Kawasaki motorcycle northbound on I-55 approaching a curve to the right. For reasons still under investigation, Smith’s motorcycle traveled off the left side of the roadway and crashed into the guardrail. Smith was ejected from the motorcycle, landed in the left northbound lane, and the motorcycle then came to rest in the right lane approximately 250 feet away.
Despite wearing an approved DOT helmet, Smith sustained severe injuries in the crash. He was transported to an area hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Impairment is not suspected as a contributing factor in the crash, but as in all fatal crashes, a blood sample was taken and submitted to the State Crime Lab for analysis.
