A Houston woman died Sunday morning after she was hit by a car while crossing a highway, State Police say.
The accident happened on US 51 south of Interstate 10 in St. John the Baptist Parish, troopers say.
Mona Lisa Hernandez, 32, died in the crash.
Troopers say she was crossing the highway and was struck by a southbound car. She was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers say.
Impairment on her part may have been a factor, and a toxicology sample was obtained from her and submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis, troopers said.
The driver of the car wasn’t injured; impairment on his part was not suspected, and per standard procedure submitted to a chemical test for intoxication, the results of which were negative. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers urge pedestrians to maintain a heightened level of awareness while walking near the road. Simple precautions such as wearing reflective materials, avoiding distractions, and walking a safe distance from travel lanes while facing oncoming traffic could help prevent many pedestrian related crashes. Troopers would also like to take this opportunity to remind motorists that making good choices, such as never driving while impaired and ensuring every occupant is properly restrained, can often be key to preventing and surviving serious crashes.
