A 49-year-old Monroe man died in an automobile crash on the Nebo Road early Sunday morning, according to Louisiana State Police Public Information Officer Master Trooper Casey Wallace.

Wallace reported that Roy Houston of Monroe was driving a 2020 Kia northbound on LA 127 near Nebo around 12:00 a.m., Sunday, October 15, when for reasons still under investigation, his vehicle left the roadway, traveled down the ditch and struck a tree.

“Houston, who was not restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene,” Wallace said. “Routine toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis and this crash remains under investigation.”

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Wallace noted that while not all crashes are survivable, proper use of seat belts can greatly decrease an occupant’s chance of death and may greatly reduce the extent of injury.

“Always ensuring every occupant is properly restrained can often mean the difference between life and death,” he noted.

Wallace also noted that since the first of the year, Troop E Troopers have investigated 42 fatal crashes, resulting in 47 deaths.