A Houma man was arrested this morning after authorities said his narcotics-influenced driving led to a fatal crash last year in St. John the Baptist Parish.

Dustin Brewer, 21, turned himself in to the investigating Louisiana State Police trooper today (April 24) and was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center as a fugitive from St. John the Baptist Parish.

He is awaiting extradition on vehicular homicide, careless operation and no seat belt charges.

Senior Trooper Jesse LaGrange said police believed Brewer was impaired during the 2018 crash.

“A search warrant was obtained for Brewer’s medical records during his treatment, and he was found to be under the influence of narcotics at the time of the crash,” LaGrange said this morning.

Brewer’s arrest stems from a head-on collision that occurred Oct. 13, 2018, and also involved victim Hubert Nicholas Jr., 74, of Gonzales.

Nicholas succumbed to his injuries sustained in the crash on Oct. 24.

Louisiana State Police’s crash investigation indicates Brewer was driving a Chevrolet Silverado southbound on Louisiana 3213 near Wallace at approximately 9:40 p.m. when he traveled through a right curve, crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane.

Nicholas was traveling north on Louisiana 3213 in a Ford F-150 when he saw Brewer in his lane.

Authorities said Nicholas steered to the right in an attempt to avoid Brewer, but they collided on the northbound shoulder head-on.

Nicholas was properly restrained and taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans by Acadian Ambulance Service.

Brewer was not restrained and suffered moderate injuries. He was also taken to University Medical Center by Acadian Ambulance Service.