Small child hurt in Sunday wreck, both drivers were injured and charged with DWI

WEST FELICIANA PARISH (BRPROUD) — A 3-year-old was hurt in a Sunday, July 14 wreck in West Feliciana Parish, according to a news release from Louisiana State Police Troop A. Both drivers were arrested, charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Zaria Brown, 23, and Walter Lopez, 29, both of Baton Rouge, were charged with driving while intoxicated and vehicular negligent injuring. Brown also faces a child endangerment charge.

At 10:30 p.m. state troopers responded to a two-vehicle wreck on U.S. 61, north of Louisiana 10.

According to the news releases, the investigation determined that a 2009 Toyota Rav4 driven by Lopez was going south on U.S. 61. Brown was driving a 2024 Nissan Kicks at the same time, heading north on 61. Troopers are still working to determine why the Toyota crossed the median and hit the Nissan in the northbound lane.

Lopez was seriously injured and taken to a hospital for treatment. Brown wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and also was seriously hurt and required medical treatment at a hospital. A 3-year-old passenger in Brown’s Nissan was injured, though they were properly restrained.

Brown and Lopez were to be booked into the West Feliciana Parish Jail.