A two-car accident has claimed the life of one man and hospitalized two more, according to local sources. Louisiana State Police have confirmed the tragedy happened on Interstate 10 on the morning of Dec. 21. As with many car accidents, this crash is still under investigation, and blood samples have been collected from all drivers to determine whether intoxication was a factor in the accident.
According to the report, just before noon, two eastbound cars collided after one vehicle struck the front bumper of another while passing. The force of the impact caused both vehicles to travel across the median into the westbound lanes, where one of the vehicles was struck by a third on the passenger side. The impact seriously injured a 64-year-old passenger in that vehicle, who was rushed to a local hospital and was later pronounced dead.
The driver of the struck vehicle and the driver of the westbound car were both also hospitalized with moderate injuries. The driver of the struck car submitted to a Breathalyzer test, which came up negative for alcohol. However, the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab is still analyzing blood samples from the other drivers.
Should alcohol intoxication be found to be a contributing factor to this accident, as with other car accidents the drivers influenced could face criminal charges. In addition, the family of the deceased man, as well as the injured parties, are entitled under Louisiana law to file personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, as applicable, against the driver or drivers believed responsible for the accident. This is true even if no criminal charges are filed, though evidence of driver negligence is still necessary if a civil court is to award damages to the plaintiffs.
