STONEWALL, LA (November 29, 2025) — A Shreveport woman died Thursday from injuries sustained when a commercial truck ran a red light and struck her vehicle two days earlier. Louisiana State Police Troop G identified the victim as 35-year-old Brandy Thomas.
Accident Details: The crash occurred at approximately 7:50 p.m. on November 26 on U.S. Highway 171 near Griffin Drive. Thomas was stopped at a red light in the right lane of Highway 171 at Griffin Drive when a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia traveling south on Highway 171 in the right lane failed to stop at the red light and collided with her 2024 Nissan Altima.
Thomas was properly restrained at the time of the crash and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of severe injuries. She was pronounced deceased on November 28 at the hospital. The driver of the Freightliner was properly restrained and sustained no injuries.
Investigation: Louisiana State Police Troop G is investigating the crash. Impairment is not suspected, but routine toxicology samples were taken and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.
Legal Considerations: Commercial truck drivers who run red lights and strike stopped vehicles bear clear responsibility for resulting injuries and deaths. Red light violations constitute negligence per se, meaning the driver violated a traffic law designed to prevent exactly this type of harm.
When a properly restrained driver dies from injuries caused by another motorist’s failure to stop at a red light, the liability is typically straightforward. The at-fault driver and the trucking company employing them can be held accountable through wrongful death claims.
Thomas was doing everything correctly—stopped at a red light and wearing her seatbelt—when the Freightliner struck her vehicle. This underscores that even cautious drivers cannot protect themselves from others’ reckless actions on the road.
Louisiana wrongful death law allows certain family members to recover damages for funeral expenses, medical costs before death, lost future income and support, and loss of companionship. Commercial trucking companies carry substantial insurance coverage specifically to compensate victims in cases like this.
Red light violations by commercial drivers raise questions about whether the driver was fatigued, distracted, or failed to maintain proper awareness of traffic signals. Companies have a duty to ensure their drivers operate safely and follow all traffic laws.
Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Brandy Thomas as they grieve this preventable tragedy.
Source: KSLA
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