Charges Pending in Two-Vehicle Head-On Crash on I-49 Frontage Road that Claimed the Life of a  Louisiana Woman

Lafayette Parish, Louisiana – Charges are pending in a two-vehicle head-on crash on an I-49 frontage road that claimed the life of a  Louisiana woman.

The Louisiana State Police (LSP) reported that on March 20, 2023, shortly before 8:30 a.m., LSP Troop I began investigating a two-vehicle crash on the I-49 Northwest Frontage Road near Gatehouse Drive in Lafayette Parish. Maria B. Felton, 59, of Carencro, Louisiana, was killed in the crash.

According to preliminary findings, a 2018 Nissan Titan pickup driven by Branden Lundy of Morgan City, Louisiana, was going south on the Northwest Frontage road. At the same time, Felton was driving a 2015 Infiniti QX60 north on the Northwest Frontage road. Lundy's pickup crossed the center line and collided with the Infiniti in the northbound lane for unknown reasons.
Felton was restrained at the time of the crash, according to troopers. She was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where she died from her injuries. Both Lundy and his passenger were restrained and suffered moderate injuries in the crash.

Both drivers' impairment is unknown at this time, and blood samples have been sent for processing. The crash is still being investigated, and charges are pending.

Troopers would like to remind motorists to make sound judgments when driving. Never drive while inebriated, fatigued, or distracted, and always make sure all occupants are securely restrained. While not all car accidents are avoidable, simple precautions like these can frequently mean the difference between life and death.

Since the beginning of 2023, Troop I has investigated 15 fatal crashes resulting in 17 deaths.

A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.