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Mamou father found dead after hit-and-run; family says suspect's bond is not enough
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MAMOU, La. (KLFY) -- An Evangeline Parish family is torn apart after authorities say a woman struck their family member with her vehicle and left him to die.
Kayla Ardoin, 39, of Mamou was arrested for hit-and-run driving causing death or bodily injury a week after the deadly crash.
Errol Deville, 65, is dead, while Ardoin is out of jail on bond. It's a bond Errol's family says isn't enough.
"I love you, daddy. I'm sorry this happened. I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm sorry. You didn't deserve this. Nobody deserves to die on the side of the road by themselves or to get hit. Nobody," Tonya Deville, Errol's daughter, said.
Eroll was on his way to town in Mamou on a motorized bike he'd bought only the day before. According to his family, all he wanted was a coffee. He never got that coffee or made it back home.
"I'm sorry, daddy. I'll try to get you justice as much as possible," Tonya, added.
On June 25, Errol's body was found in a grassy area on the side of a highway. A mangled bike tire was barely visible to passersbys.
"They tried putting, you know, that he wasn't wearing a helmet. I understand that. Really, I do, but all she had to do was stop. If it was my daddy's fault, fine. But stop. It's a human being. This isn't fair," Tonya said.
Ardoin was arrested a week later. State police say she struck Errol with her vehicle and fled.
"Why you didn't turn yourself in? Why you didn't stop for my daddy?" Tonya said, through tears. "Why? He's a human being. Stop."
Ardoin was charged with hit-and-run driving causing death or bodily injury. She was then released from an Evangeline Parish jail on a $25,000 bond.
His daughter, Tonya, and wife of 45 years, Darlene, say it's not enough.
"I don't want my father labeled as some bike rider that got hit on the side of the road, and nothing's being done about it. I don't want that happening," Tonya said. "I want justice to be served. If it's two years probation, fine. But I want justice to be served. I think they just charged her with hit and run. That should be hit and run with homicide. Vehicular homicide. She hit someone and killed him and didn't stop. So just like she didn't stop for my father, I'm not going to stop until I see justice. I have to. This isn't fair," Tonya said.