Man overdoses in vehicle after critically injuring person in hit and run, officials say

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - The Baton Rouge Police Department arrested a man who allegedly crashed into someone who was standing outside of their vehicle while driving intoxicated.

Police said Richard Scholtens, 34, of Slidell, was charged with first-degree vehicular negligent injuring, hit and run, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, reckless operation of a vehicle, and driver’s license suspended.

It happened on Greenwell Springs Road near Evan Brooks Drive around 9 a.m. on Friday, March 10.

According to arrest records, Scholtens was recklessly driving a Hyundai Accent eastbound on Greenwell Springs Roads, swerving over multiple lanes when he hit a person and their truck.

The victim had been in the right lane unloading multiple vehicles from a car hauler when struck, officials explained.

Arrest records state the victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital with broken ribs and severe broken legs, which officials say could possibly have to be amputated.

Scholtens left the scene, driving about a mile away before stopping when he passed out from an apparent drug overdose, according to arrest records.

Police reported reviving Scholtens with Narcan after finding him unconscious, not breathing, and lifeless in the car.

He overdosed on some type of opiate drug, arrest records stated.

Scholtens was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison after he got out of the hospital for his overdose, according to arrest records.

The suspect had multiple previous drug arrests, two previous DWI arrests, and a suspended driver’s license, arrest records stated.

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