In a dramatic shift that has captured the attention of the sports world, LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy has been legally and publicly cleared of responsibility for a fatal car crash that led to his initial arrest. After his attorney presented strong new evidence, the whole story has changed, showing that Lacy was simply a witness to the tragedy, not the one who caused it.
For a time, Lacy’s name was wrongly connected to a terrible hit-and-run incident. Now, the focus is on the facts that cleared his name and how this entire difficult experience has affected a promising young player’s life and career.
The Initial Accusation
On December 17, 2024, a fatal car crash occurred on Louisiana Highway 20, resulting in the death of a 78-year-old passenger. The Louisiana State Police (LSP) investigation concluded that Lacy’s reckless driving caused the wreck. They alleged that Lacy was speeding and illegally passing other cars by crossing the centerline in a no-passing zone. This action supposedly caused a chain reaction, leading one vehicle to swerve to avoid a head-on collision and then collide with another car. The LSP report also claimed Lacy fled the scene without helping or reporting his involvement.
On January 10, 2025, the LSP issued an arrest warrant for Lacy. He turned himself in two days later on January 12 and was booked by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. He faced charges of negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run, and reckless operation of a vehicle, before being released on a $151,000 bail.
Kyren’s Death
Kyren Lacy died by apparent suicide on April 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas, just two days before a grand jury was scheduled to hear evidence in his case and after a police pursuit that began when authorities responded to a domestic disturbance call. Lacy had reportedly argued with a family member and fired a gun into the ground before leaving the scene in his vehicle. The pursuit ended when Lacy’s car crashed. Police found Lacy with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and it was determined that no shots were fired by police during the chase.
Contesting the Charges and New Evidence
In October 2025, months after Lacy’s death, his attorney, Matt Ory, presented evidence on local news that he claimed proved Lacy was not at fault. The new evidence, which included surveillance footage, forensic data, and a report from the district attorney’s office, suggested Lacy’s car was about 70 to 72 yards behind the vehicles at the moment of impact and had already returned to his lane after passing other cars. Ory also released body camera footage that appeared to show an LSP trooper guiding a witness to blame Lacy in their official statement. Lacy’s attorney argued that the evidence did not support the claim that Lacy’s actions caused the crash ahead of him. Despite this, the Louisiana State Police maintained that Lacy’s reckless driving created the dangerous circumstances that led to the crash.
All of this goes to say: INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
Justice for Kyren Lacy.