Bert Womack, 75, was arrested in connection with a pedestrian hit-and-run on U.S. Highway 190 West near the entrance to Northshore Square Mall in Slidell. According to FOX 8’s November 12 report, Slidell police booked Womack on a charge of hit-and-run resulting in serious bodily injury.
Police separately described the pedestrian’s injuries as non-life-threatening and reported that the pedestrian was taken to a local hospital. The criminal charge uses the words “serious bodily injury,” but the available reporting does not independently establish the injury’s medical extent or a long-term prognosis. The pedestrian’s identity has not been confirmed in the reviewed reports.
Police said tips from the public helped identify Womack, and that he cooperated when investigators met with him on November 12. The crash reportedly occurred earlier that week. The charge is an allegation, not a finding of guilt.
What Makes This Slidell Investigation Different?
Police sought an older-model blue Toyota Corolla with possible front passenger-side damage. Investigators also obtained surveillance footage that WDSU reported showed a person examining damage before driving away.
That footage may help establish what happened after the collision. It does not, by itself, resolve how the pedestrian was struck, where either person was positioned before impact, or whether the driver could have avoided the collision. Those remain separate questions.
Three Types of Evidence Worth Preserving
Complete surveillance recordings. Investigators should preserve original files, timestamps and any footage showing the vehicle approaching the mall entrance, not merely a circulated clip showing the aftermath. Original recordings can be overwritten, and the full sequence may answer questions that an excerpt cannot.
Vehicle condition before repairs. The older blue Toyota described by police should be identified and inspected if available. Photographs, measurements and potential trace evidence from its front passenger side could help test whether the damage is consistent with the reported collision. The public reporting does not establish whether that vehicle has been recovered or inspected.
The actual crossing and roadway layout. U.S. 190 near the mall entrance has a specific traffic and pedestrian environment. Investigators should document the precise impact point, sight distance, lighting and any applicable crosswalk or traffic-control features. The reporting does not establish that the pedestrian was in a crosswalk or crossing at a particular location.
What the Arrest Means for a Civil Injury Claim
Whether someone unlawfully left a crash scene and whether a driver is civilly responsible for the collision are distinct issues. The injured pedestrian’s medical records and treatment will also matter independently of the wording of the criminal charge.
If retained in a case like this, Babcock Injury Lawyers would focus first on securing original video, documenting the vehicle and roadway, and identifying applicable insurance coverage. Our Slidell car accident resource and The Babcock Benefit explain that evidence-first approach.
The injured pedestrian does not need to know whether a viable civil claim exists before seeking advice. Important records can disappear while a criminal investigation is still underway. For a confidential consultation, call Babcock Injury Lawyers at (225) 500-5000 or contact us online. We do not claim to represent anyone involved in this incident.