2 boys die in car accident caused by odd series of events

Some people are seriously or fatally injured in crashes that are started by an odd series of events that independently might not have resulted in any harm coming to anyone. Due to the timing of certain events, some Louisiana residents simply end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Recently, two boys were killed and several other people suffered injuries in a car accident that began with one alleged drunk driver and ended with another.

The Louisiana State Police report that a trash compactor fell off the back of a pickup truck at some time prior to 8:30 p.m. on the day of the crash. One vehicle hit the compactor; a second vehicle that was behind that vehicle stopped, but did not hit the first vehicle or the compactor. The occupants of the vehicles got out of their vehicles in order to assess damage and remove the compactor from the roadway. Warning triangles were placed on the road, and someone used a flashlight to help direct traffic around the area.

Sadly, that did not stop a third vehicle from plowing through the triangles and hitting the cars and people from the first two vehicles. Two boys, ages six and four, succumbed to injuries at the scene. Several others were transported to hospitals in the area. The driver of the third vehicle is suspected of being impaired, along with the driver of the pickup truck that was originally carrying the compactor, who was located by police.

Criminal charges are being contemplated, but will most likely not be filed until after the conclusion of the investigation. The family of the deceased victims and the seriously injured victims retain the right to file civil actions against all of the parties believed to be responsible for this tragic car accident. Establishing that negligence caused or contributed to the injuries — fatal or otherwise — suffered by the victims could lead to an award of damages.

Source: theadvocate.com, “Tragic series of events, suspected driver impairment lead to deaths of two youngsters in Livingston“, David J. Mitchell, April 11, 2016