METAIRIE — Hundreds of family members, friends and community members gathered at the Archbishop Rummel High School for a solemn night of remembrance honoring a young couple whose lives were cut short over the weekend.

Shane Hirstius, 21, a Rummel alumnus and firefighter with the Third District Volunteer Fire Department in Jefferson Parish, and his fiancée, 21-year-old LSU student Leah Fonte, were killed early Sunday morning after being struck by a vehicle on Nicholson Drive in Baton Rouge.

The couple was honored with a hero's escort from the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office back to the Garden of Memories in Metairie on Wednesday morning. Along the processional route, the escort passed stations 33 and 34 in Jefferson Parish, where Hirstius served his community as an operator and firefighter.

Loved ones gathered during the service to offer prayers, celebrate the couple's memory and call for change to prevent similar tragedies.

Authorities arrested the driver, 20-year-old Mia Dawson, following the crash. Dawson was booked on charges including operating a vehicle while intoxicated, reckless driving, hit-and-run, vehicular homicide, and vehicular negligent injury—which officials stated will be upgraded to vehicular homicide. Her bond has been set at $229,000.

A joint funeral for Hirstius and Fonte is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27, in Jefferson Parish.