Young mother killed in accident after buying items for newborn twins

Family says she was crossing busy highway when speeding vehicle struck her

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A 19-year-old mother was tragically killed in New Orleans East while crossing Chef Menteur Highway to buy baby formula for her newborn twins. Surveillance video shows Katie Matute leaving a convenience store and attempting to cross the busy road when she was struck by a speeding vehicle, which was then run over by another car. Loved ones say two drivers were racing down the highway, and they are calling for increased safety measures like better lighting, sidewalks, and police presence to prevent future tragedies.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing issue of dangerous driving and lack of pedestrian infrastructure in parts of New Orleans, where residents have long pushed for reforms to improve safety. The death of this young mother has devastated her family and sparked renewed calls for action to protect vulnerable road users.

The details

According to the report, Katie Matute was crossing Chef Menteur Highway to buy baby formula for her 6-month-old twins when she was struck by a speeding vehicle. Surveillance video shows Matute leaving a nearby convenience store and attempting to cross the busy road, when she was hit by one car and then run over by another. Matute's family claims two drivers were racing down the highway at the time of the incident.

  • The accident occurred on February 25, 2026.
  • So far this year, there have been 9 reported car accidents on Chef Menteur Highway.

The players

Katie Matute

A 19-year-old mother of newborn twins who was tragically killed while crossing the street to buy baby formula.

New Orleans Police Department (NOPD)

The local law enforcement agency investigating the accident, though no arrests have been made yet.

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What they’re saying

“We need safer walkways, we need more lighting. We need police presence to make sure that they are patrolling, making sure that, you know, people that are speeding. This is a constant thing. This is not something new. This is, you know, something tragic that happened. But it has happened before. And so I don't know what it's going to take, right, for us to come together and say, okay, enough is enough. We don't need another tragedy”

— Unidentified family member (wdsu.com)

What’s next

The NOPD says the crash remains under investigation, and there's no word yet on any arrests.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for improved pedestrian safety measures, including better lighting, sidewalks, and increased law enforcement presence, along dangerous roadways in New Orleans neighborhoods. The community is demanding action to prevent future senseless loss of life.