Mayor running for reelection dies in car crash just hours before polls close

A mayor running for reelection died in a vehicle crash on election early morning just hrs right before the polls had been set to near and the outcomes had been introduced, police mentioned.

The incident occurred shortly after 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday when the Louisiana Point out Police were being notified of a crash involving two motor vehicles on U.S. Freeway 190 around LA Freeway 741, located roughly 50 miles west of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, according to a statement by the Louisiana Condition Police pursuing the crash.

A preliminary investigation into the crash discovered that a male driver, of Columbia, Louisiana, was touring south on LA 741 in his 2015 Ram 2500 pickup truck when he reportedly failed to yield to the 2008 Acura RDX that was carrying 84-year-aged Velma Hendrix — the incumbent mayor of Melville, Louisiana — while the auto was touring west on US 190.

“As the Acura approached the intersection, [the driver] failed to yield as he attempted to cross more than both equally westbound lanes of US 190,” stated the Louisiana State Law enforcement. “The front of the Ram struck the passenger aspect of the Acura in the westbound lane of journey.”

Hendrix, who was sitting down in the rear remaining passenger seat in the Acura, was not putting on her seatbelt when the pickup truck collided with hers. She was promptly taken to a nearby region hospital next the crash but finally died of her injuries endured in for the duration of the accident.

The driver of the Acura — who was also not carrying a seatbelt — alongside with three other travellers in the identical automobile, all suffered moderate to essential injuries and were being taken to regional hospitals for treatment, in accordance to authorities.

The driver of the 2015 Ram 2500 pickup truck was not putting on his seatbelt either, law enforcement say, but he was uninjured in the collision.

“[The male driver] submitted a breath sample indicating no alcoholic beverages in his method and experienced no indicators of impairment,” explained the Louisiana Point out Police. “He was cited for failure to generate from a quit indicator and no seat belt. A plan toxicology sample from the driver of the Acura has been submitted to the Louisiana Point out Law enforcement Criminal offense Lab for evaluation.”

The crash continues to be beneath investigation.

To start with elected mayor of Melville, Louisiana, in 2018, Hendrix experienced been functioning her re-election marketing campaign in opposition to challengers Sheila “Sam” Londerno and Caretta Robertson.

The St. Landry Parish Clerk issued a assertion adhering to the announcement of Hendrix’s demise regarding what would materialize future with the election approach.

“In regards to Mayor Velma D. Hendrix, Mayor of Melville’s premature passing, the Louisiana Commissioner of Elections, Sherri Hadskey, has knowledgeable us of the protocol for Mayor of Melville. Qualifying will be reopened on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 till Monday, November 14, 2022 and the election for Mayor of Melville will be held on December 10, 2022,” St. Landry Parish Clerk explained in a assertion posted on social media. “In the circumstance of no one particular else qualifying ahead of Monday, November 14, 2022, the candidates from November 8, 2022 with the best votes will be declared Mayor of Melville. Prayers and condolences to Mayor Hendrix’s family and buddies.”

Next the accident, Louisiana State Law enforcement took the chance to remind motorists to “slow down and come to a full end in buy to assure no cross site visitors is existing and Always use your seat belt, no matter of seating situation.”

Stated the law enforcement: “Simple precautions these as these can generally indicate the distinction in between life and demise.”