SHREVEPORT, La. — Authorities have identified 47-year-old Anthony Barone as the victim of a fatal wrong-way crash that occurred late Friday night on Interstate 49 near Highway 170 in Caddo Parish. The Louisiana State Police confirmed the tragic news Saturday morning, marking yet another heartbreaking reminder of the dangers posed by wrong-way driving incidents.
According to investigators, the crash happened shortly after 11:40 p.m. when troopers received multiple 911 calls reporting a vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-49. Within minutes, dispatchers received reports of a head-on collision involving two vehicles near the Highway 170 interchange. When first responders arrived, they found both vehicles heavily damaged and debris scattered across the highway.
Emergency medical personnel pronounced Anthony Barone, the driver of one of the vehicles, deceased at the scene due to the severity of his injuries. The driver of the wrong-way vehicle was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Their condition and identity have not yet been released pending further investigation and notification of family members.
Preliminary findings suggest that impairment may have been a factor in the crash, though toxicology results are still pending. Louisiana State Police Troop G, which responded to the scene, is working closely with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the deadly collision.
The southbound lanes of I-49 were shut down for several hours overnight as investigators processed the crash site and crews cleared the wreckage. The highway reopened early Saturday morning, but the impact of the tragedy continues to be felt throughout the Shreveport and Caddo Parish communities.
Friends and family of Anthony Barone describe him as a hardworking, kind-hearted man who was deeply devoted to his family. Those who knew him say he had a passion for helping others and never hesitated to lend a hand when someone was in need. “Anthony was the type of person who made everyone feel welcome,” one longtime friend shared. “He had such a good heart, and this loss just doesn’t seem real.”
In a statement released Saturday, Louisiana State Police reminded motorists of the devastating consequences of impaired or distracted driving. “Wrong-way crashes are among the most catastrophic incidents we respond to,” said a department spokesperson. “They are preventable tragedies that often claim innocent lives. We urge everyone to make responsible choices before getting behind the wheel.”
Authorities are continuing to investigate what led the wrong-way driver onto the interstate in the wrong direction. They are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or seen the vehicle prior to the collision to contact Louisiana State Police Troop G.
As the community mourns the loss of Anthony Barone, friends, family, and neighbors are rallying to remember his life and the positive impact he had on those around him. A memorial service is expected to be announced in the coming days, as loved ones honor a life cut tragically short by one senseless and preventable act on the road.
Leave a Reply