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Driver arrested following fatal crash involving two pedestrians

Posted at 3:42 PM, Sep 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-29 16:42:28-04

EVANGELINE PARISH – A pedestrian is dead and another is injured following a crash early this morning.

A 28-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the crash.

Troopers say 24-year-old Michael Fontenot, of St. Landry Parish, and another young man were walking north near Hwy. 3149 around 2:30 a.m. while 28-year-old Marla Rushing, of Ville Platte, was driving on the highway in the same direction.

For reasons still under investigation, Rushing’s truck hit the young man who was standing near the road. She then continued a short distance and hit Fontenot, who was standing in the northbound lane, according to a spokesman with Troop I.

Fontenot and the other pedestrian were taken to a medical center in Mamou. The pedestrian suffered moderate injuries, and Fontenot died at the hospital.

State police say Rushing was properly restrained and was not injured. Troopers suspected Rushing consumed alcohol before the crash. She submitted to a chemical test, which revealed her blood alcohol concentration was 0.144g%, according to the spokesman.

She was booked into the Evangeline Parish Jail with vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injuring, operating a vehicle with a suspended license, expired motor vehicle inspection, and an outstanding warrant out of Lafayette Parish.

The crash remains under investigation.