Houma man charged in hit-and-run fatality

A 26-year-old Houma man turned himself in to state police Sunday, one day after he reportedly fatally hit a 51-year-old Romanian man riding his bicycle on Industrial Boulevard and fled the scene.

Mark Romano reportedly told state police he was driving the 1999 Ford Escort that struck shipyard worker Neculai Popa on his bike as he attempted to cross the road near North American shipyard around 10 p.m. Saturday, state police reported.

Romano also admitted he was drinking the night of the crash. However, he said he was not aware that he had hit anyone, said State Police Troop C spokesman Trooper Gilbert Dardar Jr.

Dardar said Popa, who worked at North American, was en route to his temporary residence at the shipyard. He was pronounced dead later at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center.

A passing motorist notified police that he had spotted a man examining the right side of a car parked about a half-mile away from a bicycle on the shoulder of the road, Dardar said.

By the time state police arrived, Romano fled on foot, leaving his car behind.

Romano is charged with felony hit and run, an open container violation and having an expired inspection sticker.

Popa’s death was the second in a 24-hour period on Tri-parish highways.

Walter Hebert Jr., 64, of Houma, was killed about 2 a.m. Saturday when an alleged drunk driver hit him and fled as he walked on the shoulder of La. 182 near the New Horizons bar.

The driver, Victor Santiesteban, 40, of Houma, was more than one-and-a-half times – .129 – over the legal alcohol limit at the time of the crash, state police said.

Santiesteban was driving a red 1993 Dodge Spirit west when he struck Hebert, according to state police.

With the help of Houma Police, Santiesteban was located less than a mile away at 155 1/2 New Orleans Blvd. in Houma.

Hebert was transported to Terrebonne General Medical Center where he died a short time later.

Santiesteban is charged with vehicular homicide, felony hit and run, having no driver’s license, license plate or insurance and improper lane use. He was also charged as an illegal alien operating a motor vehicle.