Louisiana Man Accused Of Drugged Driving In Fatal Car Accident

Posted in Car Accidents,Impaired Driving,Our Blog on January 2, 2014

A Louisiana man, who is facing drugged-driving allegations after a fatal collision in Acadia Parish, had a history of criminal offenses, according to authorities. Still, the 48-year-old man who caused the car accident has spent little time actually behind bars for criminal drug use and previous DWIs. Now, the man has been booked on a fourth DWI and other allegations because of his involvement in the fatal accident. That car crash killed a 35-year-old Church Point woman. He stands to spend up to three decades in prison if convicted of those crimes.

In this case, the man appeared to have been intoxicated on illegal drugs when he drifted across a center line while driving on Louisiana 35. He drove his Dodge pickup truck head-on into the victim’s vehicle at about 10 p.m. on Christmas night, according to reports. In addition to killing the woman in the other vehicle, the head-on crash injured two other victims in the decedent’s vehicle. A 53-year-old woman who was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash suffered serious injuries and was transported to local medical facilities. A 39-year-old woman suffered minor injuries in the wreck.

Official reports show that the at-fault driver was taken to the Acadia Parish Jail shortly after the car collision. He is facing serious allegations in addition to the DWI, including charges for traffic violations, vehicular negligent injury and disabling an ignition interlock device. That device was designed to prevent the negligent driver from getting behind the wheel while drunk.

The victims who were injured in this case may be able to recover financial damages from the at-fault driver, even if he is acquitted of criminal charges for the car accident. Those victims deserve payment for the pain and suffering they have endured, along with potentially high medical costs. Relatives of the woman who died may also be able to recover compensation from the driver for wrongful death. A qualified Louisiana personal injury attorney may be able to maximize the outcome of such a civil case.

Source: The Advocate, “Police say drug impaired driver caused fatal crash in Acadia” Billy Gunn, Dec. 29, 2013