Fatal Crash Involving A Pedestrian in Moss Bluff
From the desk of Sgt. James Anderson there has been a report of a fatality in Moss Bluff
On July 22, 2012, at 9:11 p.m., troopers assigned to Louisiana State Police Troop D responded to a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on U.S. Highway 171 at You Winn Road in the community of Moss Bluff in Calcasieu Parish that claimed the life of a Moss Bluff woman.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2006 Pontiac G6 driven by 29-year-old Rita Rivera of Lake Charles was traveling north on U.S. 171 at You Winn Road when the vehicle she was driving struck a pedestrian who was crossing U.S. 171 in the right lane of travel.
The pedestrian, 54-year-old Pamela Jean Benniefiel of Moss Bluff, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office.
Rivera, who was wearing a seat belt, sustained only minor injuries. Routine toxicology samples were obtained and will be submitted for analysis.
No charges have been filed and the crash remains under investigation. Safety is a shared responsibility for all road users, including drivers and pedestrians. A majority of pedestrian fatalities, nearly 70 percent, occur at night. Pedestrians are encouraged to wear light colored clothing, reflective materials, and to carry a flashlight at night.
Drivers are encouraged to obey traffic laws, be alert, and to watch for pedestrians at all times. Additional pedestrian safety information may be found online at
This is the fourth pedestrian fatality investigated by Troop D this year.
For more updates on this story, please keep it here to 107 Jamz.