Eunice retired educator and civil rights activist George Fisher was killed Sunday night when his vehicle was hit head-on by a pickup truck driven by an unlicensed and suspected impaired driver on La. 95 north of I-10. He was 63.

Fisher retired in 2012 after 40 years in public education. His last assignment was facilitator at the Eunice Alternative School.

Fisher received the 2009 Martin Luther King Award presented annually by the city’s MLK Celebration Committee.

He was founder and president of Black Man Seven, a community group active in many civil rights issues and cases. He also owned a nightclub.

According to State Police, Fisher was killed when his car was hit by a pickup driven by Gerardo Robles, 28, of Church Point.

Robles’ vehicle first struck a Toyota SUV from behind, then after impact crossed the center line and hit Fisher’s Lexus.

What caused Robles’ to hit the SUV from behind is still under investigation.

One of Fisher’s passengers, Calvin Cheeks, 63, of Church Point was critically injured and his other passenger, his brother Scottie Fisher, 70, received moderate injuries.

Robles, suspected of being impaired, was also critically injured.

The driver of the SUV, Mary Dupuis, 58, of Scott, and two passengers in her vehicle were properly restrained and received minor injuries.

Robles was not restrained. Troopers were uncertain if Fisher and his passengers were.

Robles is charged with vehicular homicide, six counts of vehicular negligent injury, no seat belt, no driver’s license and reckless operation.

Fisher was a 1967 graduate of Charles Drew High and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Southern University. He earned 30 hours plus from LSU Eunice and Southern, specializing in adult education, history and elementary education.

His St. Landry teaching assignments included Highland Elementary, Central Middle School, Opelousas Jr. High, Opelousas High and Beau Chene High.

He was a member of St. Luke Baptist Church.

On the occasion of winning the MLK Award, Fisher urged his audience to work for positive change for community youth, reflecting years spent in adult education.

“Let’s get them back in school. Let’s make a difference in their lives. We’ve got boys walking the streets with their pants hanging down. Let’s pull those pants up.”

“It’s not a black America, it’s not a white America, it’s just America,” he said.

Arrangements are pending.