Ball man charged with vehicular homicide in Rapides Parish accident

**UPDATE**

**Earlier this afternoon, Troopers arrested and charged Micah D. Baden with vehicular homicide, in reference to the death of Chloe R. James. He was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center.

See below for the original release from May 18, 2016.

Rapides Parish – Late last night, a single vehicle crash injured a man from Pineville, LA and killed a female teenager from Ball, LA. Both occupants were not wearing a seat belt.

Troopers responded to the crash around 11:30 p.m., which occurred on LA Hwy 3225 north of US Hwy 71. The crash involved a 2007 Ford pickup, driven by Micah D. Baden (W/M 24 yrs). The Ford was northbound on LA Hwy 3225 when Baden lost control and exited the right side of the roadway. After exiting the roadway, the vehicle traveled onto a private driveway and collided with a parked semi-trailer.

Baden received moderate injuries and was transported to Rapides Regional Trauma Center. His only passenger, identified as Chloe R. James (W/F 16 yrs), was pronounced dead.

Routine toxicology tests and charges are pending. The crash remains under investigation.

Louisiana State Police would like to take this opportunity to remind/inform motorists that properly wearing your seat belt will dramatically reduce your chance of being injured or killed in a crash. We ask you to take one second to “buckle up!” Louisiana law requires that every person in a vehicle, regardless of seating position, always remain buckled up. Not wearing a seat belt remains the leading cause of death in motor vehicle crashes.