Auto Accidents

Twenty-Four Bicyclists Killed in Motor Vehicle Accidents in 2012; Highest Total in a Decade

March 21, 2014 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

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.

Speeding Motorist Faces Charges in Fatal Ascension Parish Crash

March 10, 2014 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

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.

Truckers Hauling Hazardous Materials Ignore State Traffic Law

February 25, 2014 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

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.

Class Action Suit Approved for State Workers Exposed to Contaminants

February 15, 2014 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A judge approved of class-action status for former and state workers who allege that they were exposed to contaminants when they worked at the Baton Rouge building that housed the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Almost 300 current and former state employees have completed forms alleging that the building contained contaminants that lead to health problems, including respiratory issues and asthma and allergy-like symptoms. District Judge Janice Clark stated that class-action certification in this matter is “well-founded.”

Over 200 Accidents in Louisiana Due to Icy Weather on I-10; Two Killed

January 30, 2014 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

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 Children Injured in I-10 Bus Crash

January 24, 2014 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

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.

Pregnant Teen and Two Others Killed in Drunk Driving Accident that Occurred on Highway 343

January 17, 2014 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A Duson man who investigators believe was driving drunk struck a vehicle head-on after attempting to pass another vehicle on Highway 343, killing three of the passengers inside, including a pregnant sixteen year-old woman. All three of the passengers along with the teenager’s unborn child were pronounced dead at the scene. The drunk driver was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide, third-degree feticide, and reckless driving.

West Texas Man Injured After Being Attacked by Five Pit Bulls

January 2, 2014 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A West Texas man riding his bicycle suffered puncture wounds to his arms and legs after he was attacked by five unrestrained pit bulls. The man’s injuries were treated at the hospital and local deputies were able to locate the owner of one of the pit bulls.

Drunk Driving Accident in Carencro Results in Death of Unborn Child

December 20, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A Carencro man has been charged with first-degree negligent vehicular homicide after striking a vehicle containing a female passenger who was six months pregnant. The man admitted to police that he had been drinking beer and tequila since the early morning before driving his car without headlights and colliding with the vehicle containing the pregnant passenger. After the accident, the man fled on foot, failing to identify himself or offer aid to the injured parties. The pregnant woman was rushed to the hospital to perform an emergency Cesarean birth; unfortunately, the child did not survive.

Westbank Car Accident Leaves an 8-Year-Old Boy in Serious Condition

September 24, 2013 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

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.