DeSOTO PARISH, La. — A 35 year old man from Tyler, Texas, was killed early Sunday morning in a single vehicle crash involving a tractor trailer in DeSoto Parish, according to the Louisiana State Police. The victim has been identified as Delon Perkins. Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to the fatal crash at approximately 6:00 a.m. on Louisiana Highway 175 near the intersection with Louisiana Highway 5. Preliminary findings from investigators indicate that Perkins was driving a 2020 Kenworth tractor trailer southbound on Highway 175 when, for reasons still under investigation, the vehicle exited the roadway and overturned.

Authorities said Perkins was properly restrained at the time of the crash. Despite wearing a seat belt, he suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by responding officials. State police stated that impairment is not currently suspected as a factor in the crash. However, as part of standard investigative procedures, toxicology samples were collected and submitted for laboratory analysis.

The Crash: A Deadly Overturn on a Rural Highway

The crash occurred at approximately 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 10, 2026 (the article says “early Sunday morning” and was published on May 10, so the crash likely occurred on May 10). The location is Louisiana Highway 175 near the intersection with Louisiana Highway 5 in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana. DeSoto Parish is located in the northwestern part of the state, approximately 30 miles south of Shreveport and 20 miles east of the Texas border. The area is rural, with farmland, forests, and small towns. Louisiana Highway 175 is a two lane state route that runs north south through the parish. Louisiana Highway 5 is a side road that intersects with 175. At 6:00 a.m., the sun would have been rising, creating potential glare for drivers. The early morning hour also means that drivers may be tired, less alert, or struggling with drowsiness.

According to preliminary findings from investigators, Delon Perkins was driving a 2020 Kenworth tractor trailer southbound on Highway 175. A Kenworth is a heavy duty commercial truck, often used for long haul freight. The trailer may have been loaded with goods, adding significant weight to the vehicle. For reasons that remain under investigation, the vehicle exited the roadway. The truck left the pavement, likely onto a soft shoulder, a ditch, or an embankment. It then overturned.

A rollover crash involving a tractor trailer is catastrophic. The cab can be crushed, the trailer can separate, and the driver is subjected to extreme forces. Perkins was properly restrained, wearing his seatbelt. Seatbelts in commercial trucks are designed to keep the driver in their seat during a crash. However, the force of the overturn was so severe that even a seatbelt could not save him. He suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. There was no hospital transport. The injuries were unsurvivable.

The Victim: Delon Perkins, 35, of Tyler, Texas

Delon Perkins was 35 years old. He was a resident of Tyler, Texas. Tyler is a city in Smith County, located approximately 100 miles east of Dallas. It is known for its rose gardens, its medical facilities, and its strong sense of community. At 35, Delon was a man in the prime of his life. He was a professional truck driver, likely employed by a trucking company or as an owner operator. He was someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s friend. He may have been a father, a husband, a partner. His death is a tragedy for his family and for the Tyler community.

The original article does not provide extensive biographical details about Delon his hobbies, his personality, his family structure. That information will emerge in the coming days as family members speak to the media and as obituaries are published. What is known is that he was 35, that he was from Tyler, and that he is gone. He was driving a Kenworth tractor trailer on a Louisiana highway in the early morning hours when he left the roadway and overturned. He died at the scene.

The Investigation: Determining the Cause

The Louisiana State Police Troop G is investigating the crash. Impairment is not currently suspected, but toxicity testing is standard. Toxicology samples were collected from Perkins and will be analyzed for alcohol, prescription drugs, over the counter medications, and illegal substances. The results may take weeks to be finalized.

Key questions include:

• Why did the tractor trailer exit the roadway? Was the driver speeding? Was he distracted? Did he suffer a medical emergency? Did he fall asleep at the wheel? Was there a mechanical failure?

• Were road conditions a factor? Was the pavement wet? Was there gravel or debris on the roadway? Was the shoulder soft or uneven?

• Did a tire blow out? Did the brakes fail? Did the steering malfunction?

The crash reconstruction team will analyze skid marks, debris patterns, and the final resting position of the truck. The Kenworth’s event data recorder, or black box, may provide information about its speed, braking, and steering in the seconds before the crash.

Emergency responders and investigators remained at the scene for several hours as crews worked to investigate the crash and clear the overturned tractor trailer from the roadway. The highway was likely closed in both directions, causing traffic disruptions. For drivers who were inconvenienced, the closure was a minor annoyance. For Delon Perkins’s family, it was irrelevant.

The Role of the Commercial Driver

Delon Perkins was a professional truck driver. Commercial drivers face unique challenges: long hours, tight schedules, fatigue, and the constant pressure to deliver cargo on time. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates hours of service, requiring truck drivers to take rest breaks and limiting the number of hours they can drive in a day. Investigators will review Perkins’s logbooks or electronic logging device (ELD) records to determine whether he was compliant with hours of service regulations. Fatigue is a leading cause of truck crashes.

The tractor trailer was a 2020 Kenworth, a relatively new vehicle. It should have been equipped with modern safety features, including electronic stability control and collision mitigation systems. The investigation will examine whether any of these systems failed or whether they were engaged before the crash.

The Seatbelt: Properly Restrained but Still Fatal

Authorities noted that Perkins was properly restrained at the time of the crash. This detail is significant. In many truck crashes, the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, which can lead to ejection or more severe injuries. Perkins did everything right: he wore his seatbelt. Yet the force of the overturn was so great that he still died. This underscores the violence of rollover crashes involving heavy vehicles. A seatbelt can reduce the risk of death, but it cannot eliminate it.

The Community: Tyler, Texas, and DeSoto Parish in Mourning

The Tyler community is mourning the loss of Delon Perkins. Tyler is a city of approximately 100,000 residents. The death of a 35 year old man in a truck crash is a tragedy that touches everyone who hears about it. DeSoto Parish, where the crash occurred, is also in mourning.

Delon’s family is devastated. They have lost a son, a brother, a father. They are planning a funeral instead of celebrating a milestone. The pain is immeasurable.

His coworkers and fellow truck drivers are also grieving. The trucking community is close knit. The loss of one of their own is felt deeply. A memorial convoy may be organized in his honor.

The Dangers of Truck Rollovers

The crash that killed Delon Perkins is a reminder of the dangers of tractor trailer rollovers. These vehicles have a high center of gravity, especially when loaded. A sudden maneuver, a soft shoulder, or a sharp curve can cause the truck to tip over. Rollover crashes are often fatal for the driver, even with seatbelts.

Truck drivers should be trained to recognize the signs of fatigue and to avoid driving when tired. They should inspect their vehicles before each trip, checking tires, brakes, and steering. They should never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Holding Onto Memories

As the investigation continues and the communities mourn, the family and friends of Delon Perkins are left to do the hardest work of all. They must hold onto their memories of him while also confronting the reality of his death. They must grieve his loss while also waiting for answers. They must find a way to go on without him.

Delon was 35. He had his whole life ahead of him. He had dreams that will never be fulfilled, love that will never be given, moments that will never be experienced. That is the unspeakable tragedy of a young death. It is not just the loss of what was. It is the loss of what could have been.

But what was still matters. The 35 years that Delon lived, the people he loved, the joy he brought, the memories he created these things are not erased by his death. They remain. They are the inheritance of his family, his friends, and everyone who knew him. And as long as those memories are held and shared and cherished, Delon Perkins will never truly be gone.

Conclusion: A Truck Driver Lost on LA 175

The death of Delon Perkins, 35, of Tyler, Texas, in a single vehicle tractor trailer crash on Louisiana Highway 175 in DeSoto Parish, is a tragedy that has left a family shattered and two communities in mourning. He was driving a 2020 Kenworth southbound when the vehicle left the roadway and overturned. He was properly restrained but died at the scene. Impairment is not suspected, but toxicology samples have been submitted. The crash remains under investigation. As Tyler and DeSoto Parish mourn, the communities stand together in grief, offering prayers and support to Delon’s family. Rest in peace, Delon Perkins. You were loved. You will be missed. And your memory will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew you. Gone too soon, forever remembered.