Opelousas, LA (August 31, 2026) – A 46-year-old Opelousas man died on Saturday night, August 29, after being struck while crossing Interstate 49 North near U.S. Highway 190, according to Louisiana State Police. Lee Malveaux, who was wearing dark clothing, attempted to cross both northbound lanes from the shoulder around 8:30 p.m. when a northbound Nissan Pathfinder struck him.
Malveaux was pronounced dead at the scene. The Pathfinder’s driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. A routine toxicology sample was taken from Malveaux and submitted for analysis. The investigation remains ongoing.
Our condolences go out to Malveaux’s family and loved ones.
Why Are Pedestrians in Dark Clothing at Greater Risk at Night?
Dark clothing absorbs rather than reflects available light, making a person far less visible to an approaching driver than someone wearing lighter or reflective colors. On a highway, where vehicles travel at higher speeds, this reduced visibility can shrink a driver’s reaction window to almost nothing.
Headlights illuminate a limited stretch of road ahead, and a driver’s ability to spot a pedestrian depends heavily on contrast between the person and their surroundings. Someone crossing from a dark shoulder onto dark pavement can blend into the background until a vehicle is nearly on top of them.
Interstates present an added challenge since they aren’t designed with pedestrian crossings in mind, lacking the crosswalks or lower speed limits found on city streets. Safety officials generally recommend that pedestrians avoid crossing a highway on foot entirely, using an overpass, frontage road, or other designated route instead.
