TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. — A quiet stretch of highway in Tangipahoa Parish became the scene of a devastating tragedy late Thursday night, as a single-vehicle crash claimed the life of a 6-month-old infant and sent two other individuals to area hospitals. Louisiana State Police have confirmed that the young victim, Kaybri Robinson of Hammond, succumbed to injuries sustained when the car she was traveling in veered off the roadway, plunged into a ditch, and struck a concrete culvert.
The driver of the 2013 Hyundai Elantra, 25-year-old Resjyne N. Griffin, also of Hammond, now faces a litany of severe criminal charges, including vehicular homicide, as investigators allege impairment and a complete disregard for basic traffic safety measures. The incident, which occurred just before midnight, has reignited urgent pleas from law enforcement regarding child restraint laws, seat belt usage, and the life-altering consequences of driving under the influence.
The Details of the Fatal Collision
According to a detailed preliminary report released by Louisiana State Police Troop L, the fatal crash took place on May 22, 2026, at approximately 11:50 p.m. The location was US Highway 51, just south of the intersection with LA Highway 1064 in rural Tangipahoa Parish. This area, characterized by its two-lane blacktop and adjacent drainage ditches, sees a mix of local and thru traffic connecting Hammond to other communities.
Troopers investigating the scene pieced together the following sequence of events: The 2013 Hyundai Elantra, operated solely by Griffin, was traveling northbound on US Highway 51. As the vehicle approached the junction with LA Highway 1064, something went catastrophically wrong. For reasons that remain under active investigation by state police crash reconstructionists, the Hyundai left the right side of the roadway.
The vehicle did not correct its path. Instead, it entered a steep roadside ditch, its undercarriage scraping against the embankment before the front end collided violently with a large concrete culvert—a drainage structure designed to carry water under the roadway. The impact was concentrated on the front and passenger side of the vehicle, causing significant intrusion into the cabin.
The Victims: A 6-Month-Old and a 5-Year-Old
Inside the vehicle at the time of the crash were three individuals: Driver Resjyne Griffin, a 5-year-old child, and the infant, Kaybri Robinson, who was just six months old. The relationship between Griffin and the children has not been officially disclosed by investigators, but sources indicate Griffin was known to the family.
Louisiana State Police issued a stark and disturbing detail in their preliminary report: Griffin was not wearing a seat belt. Even more alarming, troopers stated that both young children inside the vehicle were completely unrestrained at the time of the crash. There was no mention of a car seat, booster seat, or any safety harness for either child.
The 5-year-old passenger sustained moderate injuries, including possible fractures and lacerations. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crews on the scene stabilized the child before transporting them to a local hospital, where they were listed in stable condition. However, the outcome for little Kaybri Robinson was far more dire. The infant suffered catastrophic injuries from the impact and the violent forces inside the cabin. Rescuers rushed Kaybri to a nearby hospital, but despite life-saving efforts, the 6-month-old was pronounced dead by attending physicians.
Driver Resjyne Griffin’s Condition and Arrest
Driver Resjyne N. Griffin, 25, survived the crash but did not escape unscathed. Troopers reported that Griffin also suffered moderate injuries, consistent with someone who was not wearing a seat belt during a high-speed departure from the roadway. However, during the on-scene investigation and subsequent hospital interview, state police noted something else: Griffin showed signs of impairment.
While specific toxicology results are pending—routine blood samples were collected at the hospital under a search warrant—the observable signs were sufficient for probable cause. Impairment can stem from alcohol, controlled substances, prescription drugs, or a combination thereof. The presence of an “open container” charge on her arrest sheet suggests that law enforcement found an alcoholic beverage container that had been opened within the vehicle, though it remains unclear if that directly contributed to the impairment finding.
Griffin was placed under arrest while still receiving medical treatment at a local hospital. Upon her release from medical care, she will be transported directly to the Tangipahoa Parish Correctional Facility to be formally booked.
The Charges: A Legal Reckoning
The list of charges filed against Resjyne Griffin is severe and reflects the gravity of the incident, particularly the death of an infant due to negligent and illegal behavior. According to Troop L, Griffin will face:
1. Vehicular Homicide: Under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:32.1, vehicular homicide is defined as the killing of a human being caused by the operation of a motor vehicle while the driver is under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances. This is a felony charge, and if convicted, Griffin faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 to 30 years in prison, with at least 5 years to be served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. The presence of a child victim could be considered an aggravating factor at sentencing.
2. Vehicular Negligent Injury (for the 5-year-old): This charge applies when a driver operating a vehicle under impaired conditions causes injury to another person. Because the 5-year-old sustained moderate injuries, this charge elevates the offense.
3. No Child Restraint (Two Counts): Louisiana law is explicit. Children under the age of 13 must be properly restrained in a safety belt or child restraint system. For infants under 1 year old or under 20 pounds, a rear-facing car seat is mandatory. The fact that both a 6-month-old and a 5-year-old were completely unrestrained is a stark violation of Louisiana RS 32:295.
4. Careless Operation: This charge is based on the act of failing to maintain control of the vehicle, leading to it running off the roadway and into a ditch and culvert.
5. Open Container: Louisiana law prohibits the possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a public highway.
6. No Driver’s License: Adding to the litany of violations, Griffin was reportedly operating the 2013 Hyundai Elantra without a valid driver’s license.
The Ongoing Investigation
Louisiana State Police have emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing. Crash reconstruction specialists are analyzing the Hyundai’s black box (Event Data Recorder) to determine the vehicle’s speed, braking, and steering inputs in the seconds leading up to the crash. Additionally, the toxicology samples collected from Griffin have been sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for a full analysis. Those results, which can take several weeks to process, will be critical in proving the vehicular homicide charge.
Troopers are also investigating the timeline leading up to the crash, including where Griffin and the two children were coming from and where they were headed at nearly midnight. Investigators are seeking any witnesses who may have seen the 2013 Hyundai Elantra traveling on US 51 that night. Anyone with information is urged to contact Louisiana State Police Troop L at (504) 310-5000.
A Community in Mourning
In Hammond, a city nestled in Tangipahoa Parish, news of Kaybri Robinson’s death has sent shockwaves through the community. Neighbors and friends of the Robinson family describe the infant as a happy, smiling baby who had just begun to reach developmental milestones like rolling over and recognizing familiar faces.
“It’s incomprehensible,” said a neighbor who asked not to be named. “A 6-month-old is completely helpless. They depend on the adults around them for everything. To hear that she wasn’t even in a car seat… it’s just heartbreaking. That baby never had a chance.”
Local advocacy groups for child passenger safety have already seized upon this tragedy as a teachable moment. “This is not a minor oversight,” said Marianne Dubois, a child passenger safety technician in Baton Rouge. “Properly used car seats reduce the risk of death for infants by 71%. Zero. This is a zero-case scenario. There is no excuse for an unrestrained 6-month-old in a moving vehicle.”
Troopers’ Plea for Safety
Following the release of the crash details, Louisiana State Police issued a powerful, emotionally charged statement reminding all motorists of their responsibilities. The message was direct: buckle up, restrain your children, and never drive while impaired.
“Troopers are reminding motorists of the importance of proper child restraints, seat belt use, and never driving while impaired, emphasizing that these safety measures can save lives and reduce the severity of injuries in serious crashes,” the statement read.
Statistics from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission underscore the urgency. In 2025, nearly 30% of all fatal crashes in the state involved an impaired driver. Furthermore, Louisiana consistently ranks among the worst states for child restraint usage, with roughly 1 in 4 children under 8 riding without a proper car seat or booster.
The crash also highlights the persistent danger of US Highway 51. While not as notorious as nearby Interstate 12 or I-55, local residents have long complained about the lack of guardrails on certain stretches where ditches and culverts run dangerously close to the pavement. In this case, the concrete culvert proved an unforgiving obstacle.
What Comes Next for Resjyne Griffin
As Resjyne Griffin recovers from her moderate injuries in a local hospital, she is under police guard. Once medically cleared, she will be transferred to the Tangipahoa Parish Correctional Facility. Given the severity of the charges—particularly vehicular homicide involving an infant—it is likely that a judge will set a high bond or even deny bail pending a hearing.
Griffin will need to retain legal counsel, and her first court appearance will likely involve the reading of the charges and the determination of a public defender if she cannot afford an attorney. The prosecution will await the full toxicology report before potentially amending the charges or moving forward with the existing felony counts.
For the family of Kaybri Robinson, no legal outcome will fill the void. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days. A small memorial of stuffed animals and a pink blanket has already begun to grow near the crash site on US Highway 51, just south of LA Highway 1064—a quiet, heartbreaking reminder of a 6-month-old life extinguished by what investigators describe as entirely preventable choices.
Conclusion
This tragic incident—involving 6-month-old Kaybri Robinson, 25-year-old driver Resjyne Griffin, and a 5-year-old survivor—serves as a grim case study in the “fatal four” of traffic safety: impairment, lack of seat belts, lack of child restraints, and careless operation. As the legal process moves forward in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana State Police Troop L hopes that the memory of this crash will compel every driver, before they turn the key, to check their own sobriety, click their seat belt, and—most critically—secure every child in a proper car seat. A life depends on it.
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