Delhi woman killed in Franklin Parish accident

A Delhi woman was killed last Thursday in a two-vehicle crash in Franklin Parish.
Shortly after 9 a.m. on Aug. 10 Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash on LA Hwy 17 at LA Hwy 860. This crash claimed the life of 61-year-old Cynthia Beard.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2020 Honda CRV, driven by Beard, was traveling east on LA Hwy 860. At the same time, a 2014 Ram pickup was traveling south on LA Hwy 17. For reasons still under investigation, the Honda failed to yield at the stop sign and traveled onto LA Hwy 17 directly into the path of the Ram. As a result, the Ram impacted the driver’s side of the Honda.
Beard was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Franklin Parish Coroner’s Office. The driver of the Ram was properly restrained and uninjured. Although impairment is not suspected, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
While not all crashes are survivable, statistics show that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being injured or killed in a crash. Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. Properly wearing your seat belt is one of the most effective ways to save your life and reduce injuries in crashes.
In 2023, Troop F has investigated 21 fatality crashes, resulting in 23 deaths.