Tragic Incident Involving Popular Crosswalk Guard

A well-loved crosswalk guard was tragically struck and killed on Thursday by what seems to have been an impaired driver while she was assisting children in Louisiana. The victim, Katie Wells, dedicated over 40 years to serving the Livingston Parish community.

According to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, 64-year-old Darren Goudeau was behind the wheel when he hit Wells around 3:30 p.m. as she helped children cross Route 16. Sheriff Jason Ard expressed his sorrow, stating, “What a tragic death. She was very well known in our community. She was very loved and had so much energy. She loved her children and her work every day. This is just a tragic case.”

Following the incident, Goudeau was charged with vehicular homicide and first offense DUI. Authorities discovered that this offense was elevated to a second DUI since Goudeau had another DWI charge from 2022.

Wells was cherished by those in her community. Social media posts from Ward 7 Elementary School, where she worked, often reflected her commitment and received numerous praises from local residents. One local, Gayla Jopling Johnson, shared, “Teacher Katie has a great heart and has been so helpful to me since my first year teaching in District 7 in 1990! She even filled in for me after working in transportation! Thank you for all the laughs and friendship! She is truly one of a kind!”

Another resident, Kim Toothman Pickett, noted, “Katie has been one of my main anchors for many years, especially since my husband passed away. My kids and I love Ms. Katy.”

While many in the community are grieving, others have urged for changes to ensure safety. Courtney Hatcher, a local resident, voiced concerns over speeding cars near the elementary school. She stated, “We walk to school, so we’ve seen people fly by, and we’ve had people almost hit us because they weren’t paying attention, or they were going too fast.” Hatcher suggested reducing the speed limit to at least 45 mph.

Reflecting on the incident, Hatcher mentioned, “There’s a good chance that it could have happened to me and my kids because we walk every day. I’m really grateful it wasn’t, but I’m really sorry for her and her family.” As of now, Goudeau remains in custody with a bail set at $102,000.