Charles Matthews, 80, of Kenner, died after a pickup truck struck him at Airline Drive and Williams Boulevard on Wednesday afternoon, November 4, 2026. The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office identified Matthews, according to November 5 reporting by Michelle Hunter for NOLA.com. He was taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans, where he died.
Kenner police responded around 2:13 p.m. According to WDSU’s November 4 report, witnesses described a pickup striking a pedestrian. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. The collision remains under investigation.
What Happened at Airline Drive and Williams Boulevard?
The central unresolved questions are Matthews’ path across the road, the pickup’s direction of travel, and which traffic and pedestrian signals applied at the moment of impact. The available accounts do not establish the signal phase, whether Matthews was within a marked crosswalk, or whether the pickup was turning or proceeding straight. Those details matter to both reconstruction and any evaluation of civil fault.
The driver’s decision to remain at the scene does not resolve negligence. Nor would the absence of a criminal citation, standing alone, settle a civil claim.
Evidence That Could Explain This Intersection Collision
The first priority is to request preservation of any traffic-system or nearby business video showing Matthews approaching the crossing and the pickup entering the intersection. Recordings may be overwritten before a final police report is issued. The crosswalk configuration, lane markings and traffic and pedestrian signal timing should be documented to establish which movements were permitted and what each person could reasonably see.
The pickup’s condition, impact evidence, any available electronic braking data and the locations of witnesses may help reconstruct the driver’s approach. These are appropriate investigative questions, not allegations that either person violated the law.
What Matthews’ Family May Need to Know
A police investigation and a civil wrongful death investigation answer different questions. Even if no criminal charges are filed, an independent examination of visibility, driver response, intersection conditions and available insurance may be warranted. The family does not need to know yet who was legally at fault or whether a claim exists to request that relevant footage and vehicle evidence be preserved.
Babcock Injury Lawyers investigates fatal pedestrian crashes by moving early to protect evidence, identify potentially responsible parties and coverage, and prepare a case for litigation when the facts warrant it. Our New Orleans-area pedestrian accident resources, wrongful death and survival law guide and The Babcock Benefit explain that approach.
Matthews’ family can call (225) 500-5000 or contact Babcock Injury Lawyers online to discuss how evidence from the Kenner collision can be preserved. The firm does not claim to represent anyone involved.
Sources
Michelle Hunter, NOLA.com, November 5, 2026: coroner identifies Charles Matthews; WDSU, November 4, 2026: Kenner fatal pedestrian collision.