A Mississippi man was arrested Memorial Day night and charged with vehicular homicide after the box truck he was driving struck and killed a pedestrian walking along a highway in Louisiana.

Louisiana State Police reported just before 9 p.m. Monday troopers were called to investigate a crash involving a pedestrian on U.S. 61 at Severn Ave. in Jefferson Parish. The crash claimed the life of 67-year-old Ricky Lee of Metairie.

The preliminary investigation by State Police revealed that the crash occurred as Lee was walking northbound on the highway in the right southbound lane. At the same time, 24-year-old Khalil Brice of Natchez, Mississippi, was driving a 2019 GMC box truck southbound on the highway.

Lee was struck by the southbound GMC, and sustained fatal injuries as a result.

Lee was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office.

State police report impairment on Lee’s part may have been a factor in the incident and a toxicology sample was obtained from him for analysis.

Brice was properly restrained and was uninjured.

Trooper report impairment on his part is considered a factor, and he was arrested and booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center charged with vehicular homicide. A toxicology sample was obtained from him for analysis as well. This crash remains under investigation.