AMITE -- An unbelted driver was killed Saturday when he pulled his vehicle from a driveway in front of a police cruiser escorting a funeral.

State Police said the crash on La. 16 about a mile east of Interstate 55 happened shortly after 2 p.m.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the crash occurred as a 2006 Amite Police Department Dodge Charger, driven by Brandon Alford, 26, of Amite was traveling eastbound on LA 16 escorting a funeral procession.

As the fully marked Amite P.D. vehicle proceeded eastbound, a 2001 Dodge pickup truck, driven by Ira Vaughn, 76, of Amite entered LA 16 from a private drive, failing to yield to oncoming traffic.

The police unit hit the pickup on the driver's side.

Alford was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and was transported to North Oaks Medical Center with moderate injuries.

Vaughn was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle upon impact.

He was transported to North Oaks Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.

Alcohol use is not suspected to be a factor in the crash with blood samples from each driver pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab