Rodrigo Ornelas Jr. Obituary, Death: 24-Year-Old Cyclist Killed in Hit-and-Run on LA Highway 40 in St. Tammany Parish
The community of Folsom, Louisiana is mourning the tragic and sudden loss of Rodrigo Ornelas Jr., who was fatally injured in a hit-and-run crash on LA Highway 40 in St. Tammany Parish.
According to the Louisiana State Police, the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on April 12, 2026, when Ornelas Jr. was riding his bicycle eastbound in a dimly lit stretch of roadway. Investigators reported that he was struck by a dark-colored sedan or small SUV, which fled the scene immediately after the collision.
Emergency responders transported him to a nearby hospital with severe injuries. Despite medical efforts, he later succumbed to those injuries. Authorities confirmed that the driver responsible has not yet been identified, and the case remains under active investigation.
Law enforcement officials are continuing to search for the suspect vehicle and are urging anyone with information, dashcam footage, or surveillance recordings from the area to come forward to assist in solving the case.
The tragedy has left family members, friends, and the wider community in deep grief. Loved ones remember Rodrigo Ornelas Jr. as a young man with promise, warmth, and a bright future ahead of him, now heartbreakingly cut short.
As the investigation continues, the community remains united in mourning and hope for justice, honoring his memory while seeking answers in the wake of this devastating loss.