The mayor of a small Louisiana city who was working for re-election was killed in a automotive crash on Election Day, authorities stated.
Velma D. Hendrix, 84, was a passenger and never sporting a seat belt when the automotive she was in was struck by a pickup truck on a freeway about 11 a.m. Tuesday, based on a press release from Louisiana State Police. She was later pronounced useless at a hospital, police stated.
Hendrix was the mayor of Melville. She was working for re-election, based on the St. Landry Parish Clerk.
In a message posted in town’s web site from Hendrix, she says it’s a group the place folks elevate households, work laborious and have enjoyable. A city signal boasts it’s the “Catfish Capital of Louisiana.” Melville is about 130 miles northwest of New Orleans.
The crash occurred on U.S. Freeway 190 close to Louisiana Freeway 741, police stated.
Michael Prepare dinner, of Columbia, Louisiana, was driving a 2015 Ram pickup headed southbound on freeway 741 whereas a 2008 Acura RDX was headed westbound on freeway 190, police stated. When the motive force of an Acura approached an intersection, Prepare dinner did not yield whereas crossing each westbound lanes of freeway 190, police stated.
The entrance of the pickup then struck the passenger stated of the Acura, based on police.
Hendrix was in a rear passenger seat, police stated.
The motive force of the Acura was sporting a seat belt. Three different passengers within the automotive had been damage and their accidents had been described as reasonable to crucial. It was unknown, police stated, in the event that they had been sporting seat belts.
Prepare dinner, the motive force of the pickup, police stated, was not sporting a seat belt, however was not injured.
He submitted to an alcohol take a look at which decided he had no alcohol in his system, police stated.
He was cited for failure to yield to a cease signal and for not sporting a seat belt. A routine toxicology pattern from the motive force of the Acura has been submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for evaluation. This crash stays below investigation, police stated.
The St. Landry Parish Clerk provided prayers and condolences to Hendrix’s household and associates in a press release on Fb.
Qualifying for the open mayor seat in Melville is open till Monday, and election can be held on Dec. 10, based on the assertion.
“Within the case of nobody else qualifying earlier than Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, the candidates from Nov. 8, 2022 with the best votes can be declared Mayor of Melville,” the assertion stated.
Hendrix was working third in her bid for re-election with 116 votes on Tuesday, the clerk’s workplace stated. Candidates Sheila Londerno had 182 votes and Caretta Robertson acquired 171 votes, based on the clerk.
Melville has about 1,000 residents.
