Acadia Parish, Louisiana - At around 3:00 a.m. on December 4, 2023, Louisiana State Police Troop I received a report about a pedestrian being hit in the westbound lane of I-10 near mile marker 79, west of Crowley, Louisiana. The pedestrian was identified as David Valladares, aged 44, from San Benito, Texas.
According to the initial investigation, two occupants of a vehicle traveling west were involved in a physical altercation. The driver then pulled over to the shoulder and both the rear passenger (Valladares) and the driver got out of the vehicle, leading to another altercation. During this second altercation, Valladares was hit by a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am while in the right westbound travel lane and then struck again by a 2006 Peterbilt dump truck. Unfortunately, Valladares was pronounced dead at the scene by the Acadia Parish Coroner's Office.
The drivers of both vehicles involved submitted breath samples which showed no alcohol present and displayed no signs of impairment. This incident is currently under investigation.
Since the beginning of 2023, Troop I has investigated 48 fatal crashes resulting in 53 deaths.