Editor’s note: The following story incorrectly characterizes an incident involving a WAFB-TV channel 9 news van. The Daily Reveille learned that WAFB contacted LSUPD after the accident.
A white WAFB-TV channel 9 news van was involved in a hit-and-run accident Thursday on campus.
The news van backed into the front bumper of a white Toyota Corolla twice after attempting to parallel park on North Stadium Drive.
Ricky McDonald, mathematics senior and LSU cheerleader, said he could not believe the van drove off after backing into the car.
“They just hit it and drove off,” McDonald said. “I was coming out the weight room, and I saw a white channel 9 [news] van back into the car.”
McDonald said he was surprised at the reaction of the WAFB-TV reporters.
“I just sat there and kept watching them,” McDonald said. “They backed up and hit it, tried backing up again and hit it and then just drove off and parked down the street.”
Nancy Hu, owner of the car, said although the damage was not major, she was upset a news van backed into her vehicle.
“It’s not like it would be any better if it was a normal individual that did it, but they’re a local news station,” Hu said. “I’m not sure of all the slogans for the local news stations, but I know all these stations try to act like and portray themselves as, ‘We’re here for Baton Rouge, and we’re here for the people.’ And the way they treated this situation did not show that.”
After contacting WAFB-TV, news director Vicki Zimmerman released a statement on the subject.
“We are investigating what happened,” Zimmerman said. “We take any such accusations very seriously and will take whatever action is necessary.”
Assistant news director Robb Hays was contacted but would not comment on the incident.
—–Contact Jay St. Pierre [email protected]