A 20-year-old woman has been arrested after an LSU student and her fiance were killed when a car struck them on Nicholson Drive in Baton Rouge early Sunday morning, WDSU reported.
Leah Fonte, 21, a senior studying biological sciences at Louisiana State University, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her fiance, Shane Hirstius, 21, was taken to a hospital, where he later died of his injuries. Both were from Metairie, Louisiana, and had been engaged since 2025.
The Baton Rouge Police Department said the crash happened around 2:40 a.m. Sunday in the 5000 block of Nicholson Drive, between Tigerland and Lee Drive. Police said driver Mia Camille Dawson, 20, was heading southbound when her vehicle veered off the roadway and struck the couple as they walked along the right shoulder.
Officers made contact with Dawson a short time later in the 1900 block of Nicholson Drive. She was arrested and charged with operating while impaired, reckless operation of a vehicle, hit-and-run driving, vehicular homicide and vehicular negligent injury.
LSU confirmed Fonte’s death in a statement Sunday. Chancellor Jim Dalton said the LSU family was grieving and that counselors with LSU Cares were available to the campus community. LSU System President Wade Rousse also offered condolences to the Fonte family.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
Replies