STARKS, SULPHUR, La. — A heartbreaking day unfolded in Calcasieu Parish on Saturday as two separate crashes claimed the lives of two men and left another person critically injured. The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) confirmed that both incidents occurred within hours of each other — one in Starks and the other in Sulphur — sending shockwaves through the tight-knit local communities.
The first crash took place during the early morning hours along Big Woods Starks Road near Creek Road. Investigators say 48-year-old Louis Pool of DeQuincy was traveling southbound when his pickup truck veered off the right side of the road. Pool attempted to correct the vehicle’s path, but the truck rolled and crossed the roadway, coming to a violent stop off the left side. Deputies reported that Pool was partially ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities later confirmed that he was not wearing a seatbelt, a factor believed to have contributed to the fatal outcome.
Tragically, another deadly crash occurred later that evening around 11 p.m. on West Dave Dugas Road near Choupique Road in Sulphur. CPSO said 37-year-old Randall Ravia, also of Sulphur, was operating a side-by-side utility vehicle when he attempted to make a turn. The vehicle overturned, ejecting both Ravia and his passenger. Ravia was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. His passenger, whose name has not been released, was airlifted to another medical facility and remains in critical but stable condition.
Deputies are still investigating both crashes to determine what caused the vehicles to lose control. Officials have not yet said whether speed, impairment, or road conditions may have played a role. However, they emphasized the importance of seatbelt use and safe driving practices, especially on rural roads where conditions can change quickly.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to urge all motorists to stay alert and drive responsibly. “These tragic losses remind us how quickly a routine drive can turn deadly,” a CPSO spokesperson said.
The communities of DeQuincy and Sulphur are now united in grief, mourning the lives of Louis Pool and Randall Ravia — two men remembered as hardworking and caring individuals whose sudden deaths have left families devastated. Vigils and online tributes have already begun circulating as friends and neighbors offer prayers and support for the victims’ loved ones.