A man accused of drunk driving faces two counts of vehicular homicide and a 2nd DWI, among other charges, after he rear-ended a vehicle while driving on I-10 over the Mississippi River Bridge, killing two passengers. Three others were transported to the hospital and treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. The accident remains under investigation.
While the number of motor vehicle drivers killed in Louisiana declined in 2012, twenty-four bicycle riders were killed in Louisiana in 2012, the highest number in ten years. East Baton Rouge Parish and St. John the Baptist Parish contained the most bicycle crash fatalities with five and three respectively. “Many of the crashes between bike riders and motor vehicles could be avoided,” stated Lt. Col. John LeBlanc, executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
State police consider excessive speed to be a factor in a fatal vehicular collision on La. 42 after a Port Vincent man over-corrected and struck his truck into a vehicle heading in the opposite direction. The victim was properly restrained in her vehicle but ultimately succumbed to her injuries on the way to the hospital. The speeding motorist was not restrained in his truck and is currently being treated for moderate injuries at a local hospital. Upon his release from the hospital, he will be booked in Ascension Parish Prison and charged with negligent homicide, careless operation, and not wearing a seat belt.
A state law was enacted fourteen years ago that designated Bluebonnet Drive in Baton Rouge as a roadway free of hazardous materials to provide the public a safe route in the event of an emergency. This law has not stopped truckers transporting hazardous materials such as gasoline from using this route as a short-cut on their daily drives. Cameras caught trucks hauling these materials multiple days in a row and citizens who live nearby the area have begun expressing their concerns. “It’s kind of scary to know that they do make their travels down this road,” stated a concerned citizen who regularly rides her bicycle down the roadway. State police have taken notice and stated that they continue to monitor the roadway to prevent truckers from breaking the law.
State police have worked on over 200 motor vehicle accidents on Interstate 10 after icy weather conditions consumed Southern Louisiana last Friday. Governor Bobby Jindal declared a “state of emergency” on Friday and local law enforcement urged citizens to stay off the road until the weather cleared up. Stretches of I-10 were closed until Saturday when conditions finally began to improve. Two people were killed when their vehicles lost control on separate icy I-10 overpasses on Friday.
Eight school children riding the school bus home suffered minor injuries after their bus collided with another vehicle. The children were transported to a local hospital where they were treated for their injuries. Police did not say which school the children attended and that the collision is still under investigation.
A five-car accident on the Westbank Expressway in Marrero has sent three people to the hospital with injuries, including an eight-year-old boy, who the police say is in serious condition. A pick-up truck struck two vehicles before careening down an exit ramp at a high rate of speed before colliding with two more vehicles as it came to a stop. A driver of one of the first vehicles to be hit estimated the truck’s speed to be “95 to 100 miles an hour.” The eight-year-old boy was wearing his seat belt in the front seat of a Hyundai Sonata when the pick-up truck t-boned the vehicle. The boy was unconscious when the paramedics arrived and was transported to the hospital in serious condition. It is speculated that the driver of the pick-up truck may have suffered a medical emergency that caused the accident, although the crash is currently under investigation pending toxicology tests.
A fatal three-vehicle accident involving two tractor-trailer trucks claimed the life of a Walker woman and left her husband in critical condition. One of the 18-wheelers attempted to change lanes on I-12 late Tuesday night when it struck the Volkswagen convertible carrying the two victims. The collision with the truck sent the convertible into the path of a second 18-wheeler. The woman died at the scene of the accident and her husband was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center in critical condition. Neither of the two tractor-trailer truck drivers suffered injuries and an investigation of the crash is underway.
A tanker truck flipped on its side and collided with an RTA bus carrying numerous passengers in Algiers, sending many to the hospital with injuries. The 18-wheeler swerved to avoid hitting the bus when it tipped on its side and collided with the driver’s side of the bus, pushing the bus into a taxicab. The truck quickly burst into flames, but the two truck occupants left the scene unharmed.
18-wheeler truck and bus accidents can be especially dangerous for motorists considering the size of those vehicles and the tremendous force exerted when they collide with smaller motor vehicles.
A four-vehicle pileup on the 24-mile bridge that connects Jefferson Parish and St. Tammany Parish resulted in one vehicle and its occupant falling into Lake Pontchartrain. Fortunately, emergency workers on the scene rescued the occupant from the lake with no serious injuries. The occupants of the other three vehicles did not report serious injuries as well.
Multi-vehicle accidents usually become problematic when trying to ascertain fault and apportion liability. Insurance carriers may refuse to assist if they claim that you were partially responsible for the accident, which may leave you with astronomical medical bills and other costs. If you are involved in an accident of this nature, you should immediately consult an experienced personal injury attorney who can assess the accident and protect your rights.
The attorneys at Broussard, David & Moroux have the expertise and experience necessary to take on these insurance companies and give you the relief that you deserve. If you or a loved one has suffered harm as a result of a motor vehicle accident, contact the attorneys at Broussard, David & Moroux to discuss your legal rights at (337) 233-2323 (local) or (888) 337-2323 (toll-free).
Louisiana Lawyer Blog