An Opelousas man exited his stopped vehicle at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and was struck dead by a car on La. 3043 near National Road in St. Landry Parish, according to a news release from Louisiana State Police Troop I.
Police said Kelwin K. Cassimere, 41, was driving a 2003 Cadillac CTS northbound on La. 3043 when, for unknown reasons, he stopped the Cadillac on the road.
Cassimere’s car was partially in both lanes facing north with the headlights on when he exited it, police said.
At the same time, 69-year-old Joseph Stephen of Opelousas was driving southbound on La. 3043 in a 2013 Toyota Corolla, police said.
Stephen steered to the right to avoid the stopped Cadillac, but the Corolla struck Cassimere as he was standing in the southbound lane of travel, police said.
Cassimere sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said.
Police said impairment on Cassimere’s part is unknown at this time, but may have been a factor. toxicology sample was obtained from him to be submitted to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis.
Stephen was properly restrained and was uninjured, and impairment on his part was not a factor. This crash remains under investigation.