12/10/2025
Deputies Utilize Thermal Drone to Locate Crash Victim in Sicily Island
On the evening of Friday, December 5, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Catahoula Parish dispatch received a 911 call reporting a single-vehicle accident on Rock Road in Sicily Island. The caller advised that she had discovered a small red car overturned in a roadside ditch. The vehicle’s sole occupant had exited the car, barefoot and visibly injured, and was observed bleeding from the mouth and head.
Officers from the Sicily Island Police Department responded promptly and confirmed the caller’s account. Upon arrival, deputies from the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) noted significant front-end damage to the vehicle and a shattered windshield, raising concerns of a possible head injury to the occupant. Given the severity of the injuries and the cold weather conditions, deputies immediately initiated a coordinated search effort.
To aid in locating the victim, CPSO deployed an unmanned aerial device equipped with thermal imaging technology. At approximately 9:15 p.m., the drone successfully detected the occupant lying in a wooded area roughly 196 yards from the crash site and 13 yards north of Rock Road. First responders quickly reached the individual, provided immediate medical assessment, and arranged transport by American Medical Response to Trinity Medical Center for further evaluation.
Sheriff Toney Edwards expressed gratitude for the swift actions of all involved:
“We are thankful for the good Samaritan who reported the accident and for the officers and first responders who worked together to locate the victim. Without the aid of the thermal drone and the teamwork displayed, the outcome could have been tragic.”
The Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office commends the collaboration between dispatch, local police, deputies, and emergency medical personnel that ensured the victim received timely care.