Nearly every motorist in Louisiana drives above the posted speed limit occasionally, but most people will not drive at excessive speeds, which can make a vehicle harder to control. A vehicle can be difficult enough to control at high speeds, but when impairment is added to the mix, the results can be catastrophic. It is this combination of factors that officials believe led to the death of a passenger in a car accident that recently occurred on LA 30.
The initial report released by the Louisiana State Police regarding the crash indicates that the speeding vehicle was heading westbound near LA 327 in East Baton Rouge Parish when the driver lost control of it. The vehicle careened off the road and slammed into a guardrail. It finally came to rest in the trees.
The passenger, a 32-year-old man, suffered fatal injuries in the impact to which he succumbed at the scene. The 33-year-old driver suffered serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital. Troopers suspected that he was impaired at the time of the crash, and the results of a toxicology test could confirm that suspicion. Officials placed the driver under arrest, and he faces charges of reckless operation, driving under suspension and vehicular homicide.
In addition to any criminal proceedings, the family of the passenger might file a civil court action. Under Louisiana law, surviving family members retain the right to file a wrongful death claim against any party or parties believed to be responsible for the death of their loved one. Successfully proving negligence could lead to an award of damages typically seen in fatal car accident cases.
Source: ksla.com, “Driver arrested after passenger is killed in single-vehicle crash”, Feb. 5, 2016
