Elton Patterson II, 39, of Louisville, Ky., was driving a Dodge van when the accident happened near the town of Clarence about 6 p.m.

State Police said a passenger, Kim Martin, 41, of Louisville, Ky., was thrown from the vehicle. She received what were described as moderate injuries and was taken to LSU Hospital in Shreveport for treatment.

Neither person in the van was wearing a seatbelt, troopers said.

It was the second highway death in Natchitoches Parish in less than 24 hours.

Late Tuesday night, Chery Desha, 42, of Robeline was killed when she was hit by a vehicle as she walked along Interstate 49.

The driver of the car that hit Desha was in the inside lane of the interstate when she hit the woman. No charges have been filed against the driver.