GILLIS, La. (KPLC) - A Lake Charles woman is dead after a crash near Gillis, Louisiana State Police said.
The crash claimed the life of Sherry Ardoin, 59, of Lake Charles, Trooper Roy Jones of LSP said.
Just after 3 a.m. on Sunday (June 14), Ardoin was riding a bicycle north on U.S. 171 near Janet Street in Gillis when a Nissan Sentra rear-ended her, according to Jones.
Ardoin was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene. The driver of the Nissan was hospitalized with minor injuries.
Investigators determined Ardoin’s bicycle was not equipped with rear lights or reflectors, Jones said. Impairment is not believed to be a factor in the crash, but routine toxicology samples were collected for analysis.
State police want to remind people that state law requires cyclists to be equipped with lighting and reflectors during low-light conditions. Bicyclists must have a white front light visible from at least 500 feet to the front, a red rear light or reflector visible from at least 500 feet to the rear, and side-mounted reflectors visible from 100 feet to 600 feet.