Covington – On Tuesday, May 5, 2020 shortly before 11:00 PM, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop L responded to a single-vehicle, fatal crash on LA 437 (Lee Rd.) at Narrow Rd. in St. Tammany Parish. The crash took the life of 42-year-old Gabriel A. Varela of Mount Hermon.
The initial investigation led Troopers to determine that the crash occurred as a Chevrolet Impala, driven by Varela, was traveling north on LA 437. Varela’s vehicle traveled off the roadway and struck a culvert then an embankment. Varela was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, received fatal injuries, and was pronounced deceased on the crash scene. At this time, speed is a contributing factor in the crash, and impairment is suspected. As part of the ongoing investigation, toxicology will be performed on Varela. The investigation is ongoing and no additional information is available at this time.