Teen Called Victim Racist Slur Online After Fatal Crash

VERNON PARISH, LA — A Louisiana man parked his car on the shoulder of a highway and began removing debris from the road when he was hit by a pickup truck. The man, 31-year-old Sherell Lewis Jr., later died at the hospital; on his birthday.

Police have not charged the man who struck Lewis, 18-year-old Matthew Martin. But since the crash, a Snapchat chat began to circulate online in which Martin, who is white, is alleged to have said that he hit "some (racial slur)." The chat seemed to be started in response to photos a user named Matthew Martin had posted of his car after the crash. Screenshots of the chat were posted to Twitter and were posted by local news channel, including by KPLC-TV.

"how did the chevy take it?" asks the other person in the chat.

"f*****d it up pretty good lol" Martin apparently responds.

When asked if the man died on impact, Martin responded that he died on the way to the hospital. Chief Deputy Calvin Turner of the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office told The Washington Post that "all indications" point to Martin being involved in the Snapchat conversation.

According to the Louisiana State Police, Lewis and another pedestrian were removing wood from U.S. Highway 171 when Lewis was hit.

The Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office, which assisted the Louisiana State Police at the scene on Tuesday, issued a statement regarding the comments made on Snapchat.

“I am appalled at the content of the social media messages that were posted after the incident," Vernon Parish Sheriff John Craft said in the statement. "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. I encourage any citizen who has information regarding the accident to contact the Louisiana State Police – Troop E, Alexandria, La. (318) 487-5911."

The sheriff's office also said that while the language used in the Snapchat post was incendiary as well as morally and socially unacceptable, it did not violate any criminal code within Louisiana law.

One of Lewis' closest friends, Dominic Hackett, said he began to receive screenshots of the post just hours after his friend's death. Hackett told The Town Talk that his friend was positive and kind hearted and he could always count on great advice from him.

Hackett told the paper he believes what happened was an accident but doesn't understand how Martin would have no remorse. He said that if it were him, he would have immediately tried to help.

Louisiana State Police said they obtained statements from two independent witnesses in addition to Lewis and the other pedestrian who was helping clear debris.

The crash investigation is ongoing.

Lewis' sister, Shotoya Lewis Ayers, told KPLC-TV that her brother would be remembered for his smile and his positive attitude. She said Lewis owned a barber shop and he loved what he did.

"He would have helped anybody that needed help, no matter what," Ayers told the news channel.

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