Jeffery L. Garner Obituary, DERIDDER, La. — Jeffery L. Garner, 62, of DeRidder, Louisiana, has died after being struck by a vehicle during a serious pedestrian crash on E. 1st Street Sunday afternoon, August 30, 2026, according to the DeRidder Police Department.
Officers began investigating the fatal incident shortly after 1:30 p.m. after a Chevrolet Camaro left the roadway and entered the parking lot of a nearby car wash. Garner was at the business at the time of the crash, where he was washing his vehicle.
According to preliminary findings, a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro was traveling westbound on E. 1st Street when it left the roadway for reasons that have not yet been determined. The vehicle then entered the car wash parking area and struck Garner, leaving him with serious injuries.
Emergency personnel responded to the scene and transported Garner to a local hospital for treatment. Despite efforts to save his life, he was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. His death has brought a tragic end to a routine afternoon in DeRidder.
The crash also injured the driver and passenger of the Camaro. Both occupants were transported to a Lake Charles-area hospital for medical treatment. Their current conditions were not provided in the preliminary information released by authorities.
As investigators continue examining the circumstances of the crash, officers obtained a toxicology sample from the driver. The sample will undergo testing as authorities work to determine what factors may have contributed to the Camaro leaving E. 1st Street and entering the car wash parking lot.
The DeRidder Police Department has not released a confirmed cause for the vehicle leaving the roadway, and no information regarding possible citations or charges was provided. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence and establish a complete timeline of the incident.
Jeffery L. Garner’s passing remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash. Further information may be released as the investigation progresses and toxicology results become available. Garner is remembered here through the confirmed details of his final moments, and condolences are extended to those affected by his passing.
