Former Rapides Parish Sheriff William E. Hilton died Monday after being struck in a hit-and-run in Hineston. He was transported by Pafford Ambulance to a local hospital with traumatic injuries and later succumbed to those injuries, authorities said.
What began as a hit-and-run report quickly turned into a high-speed pursuit across LA 28, according to a Facebook post from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office. Dispatch received the initial call just before 1 p.m. Monday. Deputies and Louisiana State Police troopers later spotted the fleeing vehicle on LA 28 at Leavines Road, traveling eastbound at high speed.
The post stated that officers deployed spike strips, described the suspect vehicle as a blue Nissan Moreno, and reported that the suspect was taken into custody at LA 28 and Cloverleaf Boulevard without further incident. The agency characterized the investigation as ongoing and complex.
How the pursuit unfolded
“Law enforcement spiked the suspect's tires, which was effective,” the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office post stated, adding that officers say the driver reached speeds well over 100 mph before the vehicle was stopped. The victim was found in Hineston and transported to a nearby hospital, where officials say he later died from traumatic injuries.
Investigation and legal next steps
Rapides Parish law enforcement said the investigation remains active and complex, with Louisiana State Police troopers assisting local deputies. A suspect is in custody, but prosecutors and investigators had not released charging information as of the agency's post. Authorities urged anyone with video or information to contact local investigators to help them piece together what happened.
Remembering William E. Hilton
Hilton was a longtime presence in Rapides Parish law enforcement. Rapides Regional Medical Center published a profile of William Earl Hilton in December 2025 that reflected on his retirement and medical care following years of service. Local sheriffs' offices, including St. Tammany, said they join Rapides Parish in mourning and asked for prayers for the Hilton family.
