Carencro Man Killed In Hit-And-Run Crash Involving Electric Scooter

A 32-year-old resident of Carencro, Louisiana, was killed in a hit-and-run incident on the I-49 Service Road on Sunday, June 14. Local law enforcement identified the victim as Rene Vargas, who was operating an electric scooter when he was struck from behind by a 2014 Ford Focus around 9:15 p.m. The driver fled the scene immediately following the collision, prompting an intensive search by state authorities.

Louisiana State Police detectives successfully identified the driver of the vehicle as 20-year-old Malachi Thibodeaux of Grand Coteau. Thibodeaux was subsequently taken into custody and faces formal charges of hit-and-run resulting in death. Jail records confirm he is currently being held on a $50,000 bond as investigators process evidence from the scene.

The incident has renewed focus on the dangers faced by personal electric vehicle operators on high-traffic roadways. State police continue to investigate the specific circumstances leading to the collision, while local authorities urge commuters to exercise extreme caution on service roads. The tragic event underscores the risks of sharing infrastructure designed primarily for motor vehicles with lighter personal mobility devices.