Morgan City man dies in crash on La. 182 bridge

A Morgan City man died Sunday when his motorcycle hit the back of a pickup truck on the La. 182 bridge, Berwick police reported.

The motorcycle driver was identified as Ralph Patterson Jr. of Morgan City. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Berwick Police Department said it began receiving calls about the crash about 9:56 p.m. Sunday. The department, Acadian Ambulance and the Fire Department responded.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling west over the La. 182 bridge. For reasons still under investigation, the motorcycle collided into the rear of a 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck that was also traveling west over the bridge, Berwick police said.

After impact, the driver of the motorcycle sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the St. Mary Parish coroner. A toxicology sample was obtained and submitted for analysis.

The driver of the Chevrolet pickup truck was identified as Donald Eues, 59, of Berwick. Toxicology samples were collected from Eues as well and the results are pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. According to witnesses the driver of the motorcycle was observed traveling in a reckless manner before getting onto the bridge, Berwick police said