Pedestrian killed after surviving car wreck

St. John the Baptist Parish, La. – A man who survived a car crash on US 61 was struck and killed as he crossed the highway to retrieve something from the wrecked vehicle.

Louisiana State Police say the first accident happened around 2 a.m. when a 2005 Dodge Neon, driven by 21-year-old Bianca Mason went out of control. The car ran off the road into a partially filled drainage ditch. Mason and her two passengers, Lance Dewey and Mark Durham were able to escape from the vehicle unharmed.

Police say they crossed the highway to a lighted parking lot to call for help.

Durham was crossing US 61 again when he was hit by a 2012 Nissan Rogue driven by Gabriel Dennis.

Durham was rushed to River Parishes Hospital and then transported to the Interim LSU Public Hospital Trauma center with critical injuries. Durham, of Chicago, Illinois, died around 6:30 this morning.

State troopers arrested Dennis, the driver of the vehicle that hit Durham, and booked him with DWI.

Both accidents happened on US 61 north near Jacob Street in St. John the Baptist Parish.