Matthew Martin, 18, hit 31-year-old Sherell L. Lewis Jr (pictured) on US 171 on Tuesday afternoon
A white driver posted racist Snapchat post after hitting and killing a black pedestrian who was removing debris from a Louisiana highway.
Matthew Martin, 18, hit 31-year-old Sherell L. Lewis Jr on US 171 on Tuesday afternoon, according to reports from KPLC.
Lewis had stopped his own vehicle near Pickering, Lousisana, around 3.15pm to remove debris when he was struck by Martin’s 2003 Chevrolet pickup.
The man was pronounced dead at a hospital in Alexandria and the crash is still being investigated.
‘What it appears at this point is that this man was trying to do a good deed,’ Sgt. James Anderson of the Louisiana State Police said. ‘There was debris in the roadway and he didn’t want any other motorists to strike it. So he gets out of the vehicle to remove the debris, and he is struck while this is happening.’

Lewis had stopped his own vehicle near Pickering, Lousisana, around 3.15pm to remove debris when he was struck by Martin’s 2003 Chevrolet pickup
Martin was found to have been wearing his seat belt and a toxicology report is pending.
But Snapchat messages allegedly between Martin and another person show the red vehicle that he hit Lewis with with the caption: ‘y’all i just hit a whole guy on the highway.’ The post also included three sob emojis.

But Snapchat messages allegedly between Martin and another person show the red vehicle that he hit Lewis with with the caption: ‘y’all i just hit a whole guy on the highway.’ The post also included three sob emojis

In another post, Martin describes the victim as ‘some n****r’ before he continues focusing on the damage to the vehicle
In another post, Martin describes the victim as ‘some n****r’ before he continues focusing on the damage to the vehicle.
At one point Martin actually claims to feel sorry for the family, but again, is more worried about his vehicle.
‘It’s horrendous,’ Lake Charles NAACP President Rev. J.L. Franklin said. ‘Our prayers are with the family, no doubt about that. But what is most devastating is the aftermath of that. The posts.’
The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office has received numerous calls in relation to the post, but asserted that while they were ‘morally and socially unacceptable, the post did not violate criminal law.’

At one point Martin actually claims to feel sorry for the family, but again, is more worried about his vehicle

Lewis was said to be the owner of Sonny Boyz Barber on US 171
Sheriff Sam Craft added in a statement: ‘I am appalled at the content of the social media messages that were posted after the incident. This post is unacceptable and has no place in our society. The inflammatory words that were used were morally wrong. I have the utmost confidence in the Louisiana State Police and their ability to thoroughly investigate this incident.’
Lewis’ sister. Shotoya Lewis-Ayers, said that her brother’s smile and positive attitude will live on in his memory.
‘He would have helped anybody that needed, help no matter what. If you were feeling down, he would always make jokes, crack you up, keep you smiling.’
She added that her brother was the owner of Sonny Boyz Barber on US 171.