The Louisiana State Police released crucial video footage and records on Tuesday regarding a tragic crash that occurred in December 2024. This incident has been linked to former LSU football player Kyren Lacy, raising questions about the investigation's integrity. The release comes after a video interview with Lacy's attorney, which suggested potential doubt about Lacy's culpability in the fatal crash that claimed the life of 78-year-old Herman Hall in Chackbay, Louisiana.
According to the Louisiana State Police, the green Dodge Charger driven by Lacy did not physically impact any other vehicles during the incident. However, all evidence collected during the investigation points to Lacy's reckless operation of the Charger, which moved into oncoming traffic and set off a series of events that ultimately led to the fatal accident.
Tragically, Lacy, who was 24 years old, passed away on April 12 in Houston from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound while being pursued by authorities. This incident is documented in a report by the Harris County Sheriff's Office. An arrest warrant issued in January indicated that Lacy faced serious charges, including felony negligent homicide, hit and run, and misdemeanor reckless driving. Although the Lafourche Parish District Attorney's Office had not formally charged Lacy, preparations were underway to present the case to a grand jury for potential indictment.
On December 17, 2024, around noon, Lacy was reported to be driving southbound on Louisiana Highway 20 in his green Charger. According to the arrest warrant affidavit dated January 8, he was traveling at an extremely high speed in a posted 40 mph zone while passing multiple vehicles, including a large 18-wheeler. As Lacy attempted to overtake these vehicles, he rapidly approached a northbound pickup truck, prompting the driver to take emergency action by braking and maneuvering off the roadway.
This evasive action by the pickup driver resulted in a secondary collision with a southbound 2017 Kia Sorento occupied by Hall. The Louisiana State Police's narrative included surveillance footage showing Lacy's vehicle returning to the southbound lane, followed by a crash audible on the recording. Remarkably, Lacy continued driving past the crash scene without stopping.
In a video narrative compiled by the police, they emphasized the use of 21 separate video cameras to track Lacy's path from the crash scene to a nearby business located 11 miles away. Alarmingly, evidence indicated that less than ten minutes after the crash, Lacy made his first phone call to a personal injury attorney in the Baton Rouge area.
During the interview with the local television station, Lacy's attorney, Matthew Ory, presented data he claimed originated from the Lafourche Parish District Attorney's office. He contended that Lacy returned to the proper lane 92.3 yards before the collision, suggesting that this distance was sufficient to avoid causing the crash. Ory also shared footage showing Lacy passing the crash scene after the impact.
Furthermore, Ory argued that the car which struck the vehicle carrying Hall was following the pickup truck too closely, and the driver swerved left to prevent a collision when the pickup truck braked. Initially, the police ticketed this driver for following too closely, later amending it to crossing left of center. Ory also referenced body camera footage indicating that an officer may have unduly influenced the pickup driver to testify that Lacy's Charger was responsible for the accident.
In a statement, Col. Robert P. Hodges, superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, urged the public to focus on the complete facts of the case, acknowledging that external narratives may arise based on selective information. Meanwhile, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill confirmed she was coordinating with state police for an independent review of all witness statements and evidence associated with the crash.
In a follow-up statement, Murrill emphasized that while the evidence regarding Lacy's lane return is not in dispute, it does not absolve him of responsibility for the events that led to the tragic collision resulting in Herman Hall's death. Under Louisiana law, a driver can be held guilty of vehicular homicide even if there is no direct contact with another vehicle, as long as their actions are determined to be the proximate cause of the accident.
As the district attorney's office prepared to bring the case before a grand jury on April 14, Lacy's death on April 12 added another layer of complexity to this ongoing investigation. Prior to his death, police were alerted by a female relative who reported an argument with Lacy, during which he discharged a firearm. When authorities attempted to pull him over shortly after, Lacy fled, leading to a pursuit that culminated in a crash and a subsequent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The incident remains under investigation, with more details expected to emerge as authorities continue to analyze the evidence and witness statements related to this tragic event.
