THIBODAUX, La. (WGNO) — A crash on a Lafourche Parish highway Christmas night left a passenger dead and the driver injured and arrested, according to the Louisiana State Police.
Just after 8 p.m., troopers were called to the scene of a single-vehicle crash on La. Highway 308 near Marcello Boulevard. An investigation revealed 49-year-old Francisco Lopez-Mendoza was driving a Mazda 3 along the highway when he entered a left curve.
For unknown reasons, police say the Mazda ran off the right side of the road, collided with a utility pole, and flipped over. Troopers say Mendoza, along with 46-year-old passenger Lazaro Pech of Raceland, were wearing seatbelts but Mendoza only suffered moderate injuries. Pech was pronounced dead on the scene.
Detectives determined Mendoza was impaired and was arrested at the hospital for:
- Driving While Impaired
- Vehicular Homicide
- Careless Operation
- Driver Must Be Licensed
The crash remains under investigation by LSP.
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