Mia Dawson, 20, faces multiple felony charges after Baton Rouge police say she struck and killed an engaged couple walking along a roadside early Sunday.
The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested Dawson on charges including vehicular homicide, hit-and-run driving, operating while impaired, reckless operation of a vehicle, and vehicular negligent injuring. Officers said the crash occurred at approximately 2:40 a.m. On Nicholson Drive near the Louisiana State University campus.
Leah Fonte, 21, died at the scene. Her fiancé, Shane Hirstius, 21, was transported to a hospital, where he later died. The couple, described as high school sweethearts, were walking on the right shoulder of the road when Dawson allegedly veered off and struck them.
Fonte was a senior at LSU studying biological sciences. LSU president Wade Rousse addressed her death in a statement from the institution.
“On behalf of the LSU System and all nine of the institutions that make up our LSU family, we send sincere condolences to the Fonte family as they learn of Leah’s passing,” Rousse said. “We pray that God will comfort those she loved during this time of reflection and mourning.”
Hirstius served as a firefighter with the River Ridge Volunteer Fire Department. The department posted about his death on Facebook, highlighting his dedication to service.
“Shane was much more than a firefighter. He was a person with an enormous heart, an unforgettable smile, and a genuine passion for helping others,” the department wrote.
“He gave 110% of himself to his responsibilities as a first responder, always willing to step forward when someone needed help. His dedication, compassion, and commitment to serving others represented the very best of what it means to be a firefighter,” the department continued.
Dawson’s arrest on impairment-related charges has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about impaired driving near college campuses. The crash occurred along a major thoroughfare that runs past LSU’s campus, an area frequently used by students on foot.
The couple’s deaths have prompted an outpouring of grief from both the university and firefighting communities. Fonte and Hirstius had been together since high school and were engaged to be married.
Police have not released additional details about the circumstances of Dawson’s impairment or whether speed was a contributing factor. The investigation remains active as prosecutors review the case.
The River Ridge Volunteer Fire Department’s tribute to Hirstius emphasized the personal qualities that defined his work.
“His dedication, compassion, and commitment to serving others represented the very best of what it means to be a firefighter,” the department repeated in its Facebook post mourning his loss.