A driver and his passenger were heading east on a portion of Louisiana Highway 182 in the southern part of the state. The passenger called to the driver to make a sudden left turn. The driver’s admitted failure to see the two motorcycles coming from the opposite direction led to the resulting car accident.
The crash occurred shortly after 9 p.m. One of the motorcycle riders was thrown into the grass along the roadway. Even though he suffered severe injuries, he reportedly spoke to emergency personnel as he was transported to a hospital in the area. Sadly, the efforts of medical personnel were not enough to save his life.
The other motorcycle rider was also thrown off, but his landing was on the roadway near his motorcycle. He suffered injuries described as moderate and was taken to a local hospital. At last report, he had survived, but his current condition is not known.
On the night of the crash, the driver of the car was not injured. No report was provided regarding whether the passenger in the car had been injured. Police cited the driver for not yielding the right-of-way to the motorcycles. Unfortunately, the Lafayette Police Department reported the next day that the driver had taken his own life sometime after the accident.
The tragedies surrounding this car accident continue since one man is fighting to recover from his injuries, and two families are grieving. Even so, the injured man and the family of the deceased victim retain the right to file civil actions against the driver’s estate. If a Louisiana court determines that he was negligent, damages may be awarded that could alleviate the financial burdens placed on the injured man and the other rider’s family.
Source: katc.com, “Traffic crash in Broussard leaves one man dead”, Jan. 11, 2015
