Charges are pending in fatal accident on Louisiana Hwy 13

Determining the cause of a crash can take some time. Louisiana law enforcement agencies often require more than just the investigation conducted at the scene of a serious or fatal accident in order to determine what happened. Only after that investigation is substantially completed is a determination made regarding whether any charges should be filed against the driver believed to be at fault.

This is where troopers with the Louisiana State Police were at last report in connection with an accident that recently occurred on Louisiana Highway 13. What is known thus far is that a pickup truck headed southbound on the highway veered into the oncoming lane of travel for reasons that have yet to be determined. The pickup slammed into a northbound car.

The 31-year-old driver of the northbound vehicle suffered fatal injuries in the impact despite being properly restrained at the time. The driver of the pickup truck, also 31 years old, suffered injuries that were considered to be moderate. Officials suspect that impairment contributed to the crash, but are awaiting the results of toxicology tests to confirm that supposition. When those test results are in and the investigation is complete, charges could be filed against the surviving driver.

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased driver is forced to prematurely bury their loved one. As the weeks and months pass, surviving family members will more than likely incur significant financial losses associated with this fatal accident and the death of their loved one. Filing a wrongful death claim in which it is established through appropriate evidence that the surviving driver’s negligence caused or contributed to the victim’s death could result in an award of damages to help defray those losses.

Source: theadvertiser.com, “Ville Platte man killed in crash“, Sept. 20, 2016