The 19-year-old had just left a convenience store to buy formula, relatives said.
NEW ORLEANS — A 19-year-old mother of twin infants was killed in New Orleans East after she left a convenience store and tried to cross Chef Menteur Highway, where a speeding vehicle struck her and a second vehicle later ran over her, relatives said.
The crash has intensified pressure from nearby residents who say the busy corridor has long needed safer pedestrian access, stronger lighting and more traffic enforcement. New Orleans police said Tuesday night the case remained under investigation, and officials had not announced any arrests.
The victim was identified by family members as Keydi Matute, also referred to by relatives as Katie. They said she had been buying items for her twins, including baby formula, during an errand that took her along a commercial stretch lined with small businesses. The twins are about 6 months old, relatives said, and her death has left the family grieving while trying to plan care for the children.
Surveillance video from a nearby business, described by relatives and reported by a local TV station, shows Matute leaving the store and appearing to hurry away. The footage then shows her stepping into the roadway and attempting to cross multiple lanes of Chef Menteur Highway. A vehicle moving quickly strikes her, according to family members who said they reviewed or were told about the video.
The station said it stopped the video before the most graphic moments. But relatives said the sequence does not end with the initial impact. After Matute was hit, another vehicle ran over her, they said. The family also claimed two drivers were racing along the roadway before the crash. Police have not confirmed that allegation publicly, and investigators have not released details about how many vehicles were involved, whether a driver fled, or whether citations were issued at the scene.
Chef Menteur Highway is a major route through New Orleans East, carrying commuters and through-traffic as it cuts past neighborhoods, shopping strips and gas stations. Residents said the road functions like a fast-moving highway even in areas where people routinely walk to stores and cross to reach bus stops. Several neighbors said there are places with limited sidewalks and few protected crossings, forcing pedestrians to choose between long detours and risky dashes across traffic.
People who live nearby said the danger is most visible at night, when gaps in lighting can make it harder for drivers to see someone stepping off the shoulder. They described a pattern of speeding and reckless driving, including cars that accelerate in straightaways. Some residents said they hear engines revving and see vehicles weave between lanes. They said they have raised concerns to officials for years but feel changes have come slowly.
Cristiane Rosales-Fajardo said the neighborhood needs basic safety upgrades and enforcement. “We need safer walkways, we need more lighting,” she said, adding that police presence could help deter speeding. Rosales-Fajardo said residents view the latest death as part of a broader problem rather than a single freak event, and she urged officials to treat the corridor as a place where people live and walk, not only a road for cars.
City figures cited in the report show nine car accidents have already been reported on Chef Menteur Highway this year. Residents said numbers like that only begin to tell the story because many close calls go unreported. They said the road’s design can encourage speed, while nearby businesses attract foot traffic that has few safe options for crossing. Neighbors said the mix creates a predictable hazard that has ended in repeated injuries and crashes.
Police have not released an official timeline for when the crash happened over the weekend, nor have they provided details about the vehicles involved. Investigators in fatal pedestrian cases often collect video, measure skid marks, review vehicle damage, and seek witness statements to estimate speed and determine right-of-way. When multiple vehicles are involved, investigators also work to establish the order of impacts and whether any driver could have avoided hitting the victim.
The investigation could determine whether any charges are filed. In Louisiana, reckless operation, racing on public streets, hit-and-run allegations, and impaired driving can lead to serious criminal penalties if supported by evidence. Authorities have not said whether they are pursuing a street racing angle, but family members said they want answers about why traffic appeared to be moving so fast when Matute stepped onto the roadway.
In the meantime, neighbors said they are turning grief into renewed demands for improvements. Some said they want marked crossings with signals, raised medians where pedestrians can pause, and continuous sidewalks that connect residential streets to shopping areas. Others said the fastest step would be visible enforcement and speed reduction efforts, including patrols during peak hours and targeted stops for aggressive driving.
Relatives described Matute as devoted to her babies and willing to do whatever was needed for them. They said the errand was routine and meant to keep the twins fed. Her death, they said, has left the family facing both emotional loss and immediate practical needs, including childcare plans for two infants who are too young to understand why their mother is gone.
By Tuesday night, police had not announced any suspects, charges, or a public update. The next expected development is the identification of the driver or drivers involved and a decision by investigators and prosecutors on whether criminal charges will be pursued in connection with the fatal crash.
Author note: Last updated February 25, 2026.