A crash in St. Landry Parish Saturday claims the lives of two women from Opelousas. State Police now have a man in custody after the driver fled the scene. State Trooper Thomas Gossen says a car mirror left at the scene was evidence enough to develop a suspect.
“They were able to determine that Michael Thibodeaux was driving a 2001 Jeep Cherokee whenever he allegedly struck the pedestrians in the roadway. So, the arrest warrant was signed, and the arrest was made yesterday evening,” says Louisiana State Trooper Thomas Gossen.
42-year old Kizzy Greene and 41-year old Angela Broussard were both killed when they were standing in the northbound lane of LA 749. Reports from “The Advocate” indicate one of the victims in the crash received a call earlier Saturday night that her son had been found dead, she was overcome with grief and ran out onto the highway. Gossen says Thibodeaux has been charged with hit and run driving.
“If you cause an accident, you’re supposed to give identity and offer reasonable aid. In this specific case, he didn’t stop number one and leave his identity and number two render aid,” says Gossen.
Gossen says Thibodeaux’s charge of hit and run driving could receive a much stronger sentencing because two fatalities occurred as a result of the accident as opposed to leaving an accident and not causing injury.
“The difference is that the penalty phase is much stronger whenever there’s a serious injury, or in this case a death. So the penalties are much, much higher in the event that you do not stop and render aid and there’s a serious injury or death,” says Gossen.
Another pedestrian was also injured in the accident.
