ALBANY — State Senator Valarie Hodges is urging the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to address possible safety concerns along I-12 near Albany after four people were killed in two separate crashes within days of each other.

The first crash happened Feb. 13, when a vehicle crossed the median and struck two trucks. The interstate was closed for five hours, and David Kilgore of Mississippi was killed.

Just two days later, on Feb. 15, three people were killed after a car entered the roadway from the wrong direction and crashed into an RV, which burst into flames. Jamie Pourciau and Baile Lassabe of Albany, along with Lassabe’s 9-year-old son, died in the crash, according to the Albany Police Department. That wreck shut down the interstate for about six hours.

In response, Hodges sent a letter Friday to DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet requesting additional warning signs, enhanced pavement markings and an expedited safety review of the Albany/Springfield interchange and nearby stretches of I-12.

“These tragic losses have deeply affected the residents of Livingston Parish and communities throughout Louisiana,” Hodges wrote in a social media post. “As a vital corridor handling tens of thousands of vehicles daily, I-12 near the Albany interchange has obvious safety challenges that these recent fatalities unfortunately underscore.”

Residents who travel the roadway say the dangers are not new.

April Warren, who grew up in Albany, said she avoids that stretch of interstate whenever possible, choosing back roads instead.

“I don't really like coming on 12 at all. I'd rather travel 55 any day than 12,” Warren said.

She said the crashes are taking an emotional toll on the tight-knit community.

“With the fatalities and all of the accidents that happened over here, it affects the community,” Warren said. “Because, yeah, the community mourns when we lose someone, especially people that are close to us.”

Warren also believes the two-lane design through that portion of I-12 leaves drivers with little room to react in emergencies.

“Even if you're trying to avoid a fatality, there's nowhere for you to go,” she said.

Safety concerns along this corridor have surfaced before. In 2019, a fiery pileup killed two people. Cable barriers were installed months later, but some residents believe more improvements are needed.

Nearly 80,000 drivers traveled this section of I-12 daily in 2024, according to DOTD traffic counts.

Data from LSU’s Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety shows 32 people have died in vehicle crashes in Livingston Parish in 2025, including 20 drivers.

DOTD officials say they are reviewing the area.

“Safety is our No. 1 concern across the state,” the department said in a statement Saturday. “We are aware of the concerns and are gathering data to properly address those concerns.”

At this time, it remains unclear whether any additional safety changes will be made.