Fatal Accident on I-55 Leads to Vehicular Homicide Charges

Sometimes it is not the initial car accident that causes injury to Louisiana residents. The occupants of the vehicles may feel fortunate to have survived the crash uninjured, but it is shortly after a crash when they can be the most vulnerable. A seemingly minor initial wreck can quickly become a fatal accident if the drivers of vehicles approaching it fail to stop.
For instance, two vehicles were involved in an accident at approximately 4 a.m. on a recent Sunday morning on Interstate 55 in the northbound lanes. Both vehicles stopped partially on the left shoulder and partially in the left lane. The two drivers did what most people would do and got out of their cars.
As they were talking, another northbound vehicle slammed into one of the stopped cars and its driver. The 27-year-old from New Orleans died from the injuries she suffered in the crash. It is not known whether the other driver who was standing with her suffered any injuries.
The 43-year-old driver of the car that hit her is suspected of having been impaired by drugs. According to the Louisiana State Police, he was taken into custody for careless driving, vehicular homicide and driving without a valid license. At last report, he was being held at the Tangipahoa Parish Jail. Investigators are awaiting the results of a toxicology test to verify whether the man was under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident.
Meanwhile, the family of the victim in this fatal accident may exercise its right to file a wrongful death claim against the allegedly impaired driver. Her family may receive an award of damages if the court finds that the party deemed responsible for her death was negligent. The monetary proceeds of any judgment awarded to the family could help defray the expenses incurred because of her premature death.