PORT ALLEN, LA — An 80-year-old man died and his wife was hospitalized following a fatal accident Wednesday night in Port Allen. The couple, visiting from Virginia for a bowling tournament, were struck by a pickup truck on Lobdell Highway.
Robert DiDomenico was killed around 10 p.m. after being hit with his wife by a southbound pickup truck. The couple was walking west on Lobdell Highway near Commercial Drive at the time of the incident. DiDomenico was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
According to the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the driver of the truck was not impaired. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Landon Groger indicated that the couple was staying at a Port Allen hotel near the crash site. They were in town for the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Open Championships, which is currently being held at the Raising Cane’s River Center.
“It appears that they were possibly going toward the Wendy’s getting some late night snacks or dinner,” Groger said. “And that’s’ when a southbound vehicle, a 2024 GMC Sierra ultimately struck both of the pedestrians.”
DiDomenico was a member of the Strike Out bowling team from Roanoke, Virginia. The USBC website lists his team at 52nd place in the ongoing tournament. Over 57,000 bowlers are participating this year.
The USBC released a statement expressing its condolences and highlighting DiDomenico’s long participation in their events.
DiDomenico had competed in the USBC Open Championships for 40 years, the USBC website states, and for 43 years, according to the USBC’s statement. His achievements included a nearly perfect 299 game during the 2002 event.
USBC extended its “deepest condolences” to the DiDomenico family, friends, and teammates.
