Mayor of Louisiana, Velma Hendrix, 84, dies in a fatal car accident

Velma Hendrix was a mayor of Louisiana who was looking forward to her reelection. On Election Day (Nov. 8), hours before votes closed, the mayor of Melville, a small town in south Louisiana, who was standing for re-election, passed away in an automobile accident.

According to Louisiana State Police, the collision occurred shortly after 11 a.m. close to Highway 741 on Highway 190. Mayor Velma Hendrix, 84, lost her life in the two-vehicle accident.

According to preliminary investigative information, a 2008 Acura RDX was traveling west on Highway 190 while a 2015 Ram 2500 pickup truck being driven by Columbia, Louisiana resident Michael Cook was traveling south on Highway 741. Cook attempted to cross both of the westbound lanes of Highway 190 as the Acura approached the crossroads but failed to make a turn. In the westbound lane, the pickup’s front struck the Acura’s passenger side.

According to LSP, Hendrix was not wearing a seat belt while seated in the Acura’s back left passenger seat. She was transported to a hospital, where she was declared dead later.

LSP

Three additional passengers, none of whom were using seat belts, and the Acura’s driver, who was, according to LSP, all suffered moderate to severe injuries.

Cook was not restrained by a seat belt either, although he escaped harm. According to LSP, he provided a breath sample on the spot and showed no indicators of intoxication. Cook received a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt and failing to yield at a stop sign. Additionally, a standard toxicological sample from the Acura’s driver has been sent off for examination.

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The Melville mayor will be chosen on December 10th, according to the St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court, who also announced that qualifying would be reopened on Wednesday, November 9 through Monday, November 14.

According to the Louisiana Commissioner of Elections, Sheila Londerno, who received 182 votes, or 52% of the 353 casts, will be sworn in as mayor of Melville if no one else qualifies before November 14.

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