All persons accused of a crime are considered innocent until proven guilty.

AMITE, La. (WGNO) — A Jefferson Parish man has been booked in the St. John the Baptist Parish jail on Friday, Aug. 25 in connection to a two-vehicle crash.

According to reports, the crash happened around 12 a.m. on Interstate 55 near the Ruddock exit in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Deputies say Mohammad Zidan, 18, of Harvey, was traveling in the back passenger seat north on Interstate 55 near Ruddock when the driver of the car took ill and pulled onto the shoulder of the road.

After stopping, the ill driver and Zidan, exited the vehicle to switch positions. As Zidan opened the driver’s side door and began to enter the driver’s seat, a vehicle traveling in the right lane of I-55 North veered onto the shoulder and impacted Zidan and the car.

After impact, the driver allegedly fled the scene and continued traveling north on I-55.

Zidan died at the scene.

The original driver suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. An additional occupant was found in the crash and reportedly was uninjured.

Through further investigation and public assistance, troopers were able to identify the vehicle that struck Zidan and its driver in Ponchatoula.

The driver was identified as Lawrence Darensburg.

As the investigation continued, troopers say Darensburg was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs at the time of the crash.

Darensburg was arrested on vehicular homicide, DWI (2^nd Offense), felony hit-and-run and other traffic-related offenses.

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