In the pre-dawn hours of August 16, 2025, the quiet of a Baton Rouge night was shattered by a horrific single-vehicle crash on Interstate 10 near the Louise Street exit. At approximately 2:28 a.m., a 2021 Dodge Durango, speeding through the darkness, met with catastrophe, leaving one life lost and another hanging by a thread. The Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) is now piecing together the heart-wrenching details of a wreck that has left the community reeling and reignited concerns about highway safety.

The Dodge Durango, traveling eastbound on I-10, approached the Louise Street exit with fateful consequences. According to investigators, the driver failed to navigate the ramp’s curve, sending the SUV careening into protective crash attenuators—barriers designed to absorb impact and mitigate harm. But the force was too great. The vehicle slammed into a concrete curb, lost control, and plummeted off the elevated interstate, crashing to the ground below in a scene of devastating destruction.

The front-seat passenger, 34-year-old Cody Pounds, bore the brunt of the tragedy. Despite the swift response of emergency crews, Pounds succumbed to his injuries at the scene, leaving behind a void that his family and friends now grapple with. The driver, whose identity remains undisclosed, survived the ordeal but not without grave cost. Paramedics rushed them to a nearby hospital, where they remain in critical condition, fighting for survival in the aftermath of the catastrophic wreck.

The BRPD’s Traffic Homicide Division has taken the reins of the investigation, delving into the factors that led to this deadly crash. Was it excessive speed? Impairment? A moment of distraction? Investigators are combing through every detail, from the condition of the Durango to the design of the roadway itself. Environmental factors, such as visibility and lighting at the early morning hour, are also under scrutiny. While crash attenuators are engineered to reduce the severity of collisions, authorities note that their protective power has limits in high-impact incidents like this one.

This tragedy has cast a spotlight on the perils of Baton Rouge’s elevated interstate ramps, where sharp curves and high speeds can turn deadly in an instant. The crash has sparked renewed calls from the community for greater caution and stricter enforcement of speed limits along the city’s highways. Residents, shaken by the frequency of severe accidents in the area, are urging drivers to slow down and stay vigilant, particularly on challenging stretches like the Louise Street exit.

For Cody Pounds’ loved ones, the pain of his sudden loss is immeasurable. His life, cut short in a moment of chaos, leaves behind memories cherished by those who knew him. As the driver battles life-threatening injuries, the Baton Rouge community mourns and reflects on the fragility of life. The BRPD continues its meticulous investigation, appealing to witnesses or anyone with information to come forward and help uncover the truth behind this devastating event.

As the sun rises over Baton Rouge, the scars of this tragedy linger, a somber reminder of the cost of a single miscalculation on the road. The investigation presses on, with authorities determined to uncover answers and prevent future heartbreak on the city’s highways.