Dubach officer killed by a passing vehicle during traffic stop, LSP says

LINCOLN PARISH, La. (KNOE) - The Louisiana State Police are investigating a crash that killed a Dubach officer during a traffic stop on Saturday, April 27, just before 1 p.m. LSP says Officer Russell Croxton pulled a vehicle over while on duty in his fully marked police vehicle. Croxton parked behind the vehicle he pulled over on U.S. 167 and the police car had its emergency lights on. Croxton was standing next to the driver’s side window of the vehicle he pulled over when a Peterbilt commercial vehicle, driven by 61-year-old Michael Sutterfield of Russellville, Arkansas, hit the police car. LSP says the CMV then hit Officer Croxton before hitting the pulled-over vehicle. Croxton was brought to a local hospital where he later died. Sutterfield and the driver of the pulled-over vehicle were wearing seatbelts and were left uninjured. LSP says impairment is not suspected, but routine toxicology samples were collected for analysis. The crash remains under investigation. “This is a reminder to everyone to please obey the ‘Move Over’ law,” reads a press release from LSP. “If you see an emergency vehicle stopped with its emergency lights activated, please reduce your speed and change lanes to give first responders room to operate safely. Following this law will help keep first responders safe while they are assisting others on our highways.” This marks the 14th deadly crash LSP Troop F has investigated in 2024.