ST. MARTIN PARISH, La. — In the pre-dawn hours of Friday, October 17, tragedy struck on a rural stretch of LA 347 south of St. Martinville, as a 49-year-old motorcyclist died in what authorities describe as a hit-and-run involving an 18-wheeler.
The victim has been identified as Harvey Gauthier, of St. Martinville. Louisiana State Police say Gauthier was riding a 2007 Honda off-road motorcycle when, just after 5 a.m., he braked suddenly and lost control, causing him to tumble off the motorcycle onto the highway. The precise reason for the abrupt braking remains under investigation.
What followed was chilling: according to troopers, an 18-wheeler — whose driver has yet to be identified — rolled over Gauthier while he lay in the roadway. The vehicle did not stop. Gauthier sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Troopers from Louisiana State Police’s Troop I are leading the investigation and have launched a search for the big rig and its driver. In a public release, they urged anyone with information — whether about a commercial truck with damage or dash-cam footage from the area — to come forward.
Officials note that the road where the crash occurred, LA 347 near Lou Gauthier Road, is relatively isolated, especially at that hour, and visibility may have been limited. Investigators are examining whether speed, mechanical failure, road conditions, or other factors played a role in the sudden brake and the subsequent failure of the big rig to stop.
With no suspect in custody, and limited eyewitnesses expected given the hour, authorities have emphasized the urgency of public assistance. Anyone traveling that route early that morning and noticing a damaged tractor-trailer, fresh skid marks, or missing parts is encouraged to contact the Louisiana State Police.
For Gauthier’s family and the St. Martinville community, this is a bitter, senseless loss — and a stark reminder of how vulnerable those on two wheels are when sharing the road with heavy vehicles. As the investigation continues, the hope is that someone’s tip will help bring clarity — and accountability — to what’s now a fatal unanswered question in a quiet Louisiana parish.
