On the early morning of January 14, 2021, Brady Michael Ortego, a 44-year-old construction worker, was on the job in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana. He and three colleagues were working overnight to install cameras on the I-310 Hale Boggs Bridge. In an instant, their lives were irrevocably altered when a 2014 Ford F-150 pickup truck veered onto the shoulder of the road, striking the men and multiple vehicles within the active work zone.
While his coworkers sustained only minor injuries, the force of the impact threw Ortego from the bridge, causing him to fall over 150 feet into the dark, cold waters of the Mississippi River below. The driver of the truck, later identified as 22-year-old Hunter Mason Johnson, abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene on foot, initiating a search not only for Ortego but also for the person responsible for the tragic event. Despite search and rescue efforts by the Coast Guard and other local and state officials, Brady Ortego was never seen again.
In the weeks that followed, Brady's family was left in a state of agonizing uncertainty. His wife, Adele Domingue Ortego, expressed immense pain and frustration over the initial lack of information from investigators. Through eyewitness accounts and tips from the community, the family began to piece together information that pointed to Johnson as the driver. The investigation eventually confirmed these suspicions, and on March 12, 2021, Hunter Johnson was arrested and charged with a slate of offenses, including vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, and hit and run. The investigation further revealed that Johnson had sought help from family to evade capture. He first called his grandmother, who picked him up after the crash, and his mother later drove him to a hotel in another town. Both his mother and grandmother were subsequently arrested and charged with obstruction of justice for their roles in attempting to hide him from law enforcement.
The legal proceedings brought a measure of resolution, though it could not erase the family's profound loss. In February 2022, Hunter Johnson reached a plea agreement, pleading guilty to vehicular homicide and obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to serve 18 years in prison, which will be followed by an additional 12 years of supervision upon his release. The case is a heartbreaking reminder of the consequences of reckless actions. A hardworking man, described by his wife as loving and generous with a spirit larger than life, was taken from his family in a violent and sudden manner. Though the person responsible was held accountable, Brady Michael Ortego is presumed deceased, and his body has never been recovered from the Mississippi River, leaving his loved ones without a final place to lay him to rest.Last Seen: Jan 14, 2021
