PORT ALLEN — An 80-year-old man is dead and his wife is in the hospital after the couple, who was visiting the capital region from Virginia for a bowling tournament, was struck by a pickup truck on Lobdell Highway in Port Allen.

Robert DiDomenico was killed Wednesday night around 10 p.m. after he and his wife were hit by a pickup truck driving south while they were walking west along Lobdell near Commercial Drive.

DiDomenico died at the scene, while his wife was brought to the hospital in critical condition. West Baton Rouge Parish deputies said that the truck's driver was not impaired.

Landon Groger with the sheriff's office said that the couple were staying at a Port Allen hotel near the site of the crash while they were attending the United States Bowling Congress Open Championships 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,” said Groger. “And that’s’ when a southbound vehicle, a 2024 GMC Sierra ultimately struck both of the pedestrians.” 

DiDomenico played on the Strike Out bowling team from Roanoke, Virginia. The USBC website shows the team ranked 52nd in the current competition. More than 57,000 bowlers are competing in the tournament. DiDomenico has competed in the tournament for 40 years, the USBC website says.

The USBC sent WBRZ a statement saying Robert spent 43 years participating at the USBC open championships. His accomplishments included a 299 game in the 2002 event. USBC expressed its deepest condolences to the DiDomenico’s family, friends and teammates.