Beaumont man, driver killed in crash

Two drivers, including a Jefferson County man, were killed in a head-on crash May 8 near Bell City in Calcasieu Parish.

Louisiana State Police Trooper Roy Jones of Troop D said troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 27 near Natalie Road around 3:30 p.m.

The crash claimed the lives of Jonathon Puente, 35, of Beaumont, and Edgardo Reyes-Rivera, 23, of Denham Springs.

For reasons still under investigation, Reyes-Rivera’s vehicle crossed the centerline into the southbound lane and struck Puente’s BMW head-on.

Puente, who was properly restrained, sustained fatal injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Reyes-Rivera, who was unrestrained at the time of the crash, sustained serious injuries. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

Standard toxicology samples were collected from both drivers and submitted for analysis.