A 79-year-old Luling woman died after being struck from behind while walking near her own driveway on West Heather Drive, and the driver now faces a negligent homicide charge as investigators await toxicology results. Abigail Sampey was walking eastbound along the right edge of the road just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3, when she was hit. She was airlifted to a hospital, where she later died of her injuries.
According to WDSU, the crash happened in the 300 block of West Heather Drive, and Sampey had just left her driveway for an afternoon walk in her neighborhood when the collision occurred. The St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office arrested 64-year-old Sandra Kinler, also of Luling, on one count of negligent homicide following the crash.
Investigators say video footage from the scene showed the SUV never took evasive action before striking Sampey from behind, even though the driver had adequate time to react and an unobstructed view of the road ahead, with no other traffic present at the time.
Toxicology Results Still Pending
Deputies collected toxicology samples from Kinler, and those results have not yet come back from the lab, per the same account. Authorities have said that depending on what the analysis shows, more serious charges could be filed, though no such charges have been announced at this time.
The case remains under active investigation, and anyone with information has been asked to contact Sergeant T.J. Mayville at 985-783-6237. Louisiana law defines negligent homicide as the killing of a human being through criminal negligence, according to the Louisiana Legislature, though the statute's existence does not establish that the allegation against Kinler has been proven in court.
A Broader Pattern on Louisiana Roads
The crash arrives against a troubling backdrop for pedestrian safety statewide. A 2025 report from KPLC, citing the state Department of Transportation and Development, found that pedestrian deaths have outnumbered passenger deaths in Louisiana over the past decade. That same report noted nearly 80% of the state's pedestrian fatalities occur at night or in dark conditions — a detail that stands apart from Tuesday's daytime crash, which happened in broad afternoon light.
The outlet also reported that, among Louisiana pedestrians killed and later tested, an average of 30 to 40% had some alcohol present, compared with a national figure of 46% among pedestrians killed in 2023. None of those statewide figures establish the cause or circumstances of the Luling crash, and no toxicology findings have been released in this case.
As with any pending criminal matter, Kinler is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The investigation into Sampey's death continues as authorities wait on the toxicology analysis that could shape whether additional charges follow.
