An accident involving a garbage truck killed one person on Sept. 6 in West Baton Parish. The Louisiana State Police are investigating the crash that occurred around 6:30 a.m. in Port Allen on LA Hwy 415. The authorities do not believe alcohol played a role in the crash, but samples were taken from both drivers so the LSP Crime Lab could run toxicology tests.
A 55-year-old man in a 2006 Mack garbage truck reportedly tried to enter a median opening and cross the westbound lanes of the highway; at the same time, a 59-year-old man driving a 2014 Kia Soul was headed north. The Kia allegedly hit the left rear corner of the garbage truck, went over the median into the southbound lanes and eventually landed in a ditch on the west side of the highway.
Both men were properly restrained when the wreck occurred, but the Kia driver received fatal injuries. The truck driver was not hurt.
The law in Louisiana states that anyone in a vehicle must wear a seat belt. If a victim did not wear a seat belt, that individual may need to consult an attorney to discuss their options.
Truck accidents can often be fatal, and those who lose a loved one might choose to seek compensation when a driver’s negligence caused a wreck. Filing a wrongful death suit may help the family of a decedent recover expenses from funeral costs and lost wages, and an attorney may be able to hold a commercial vehicle driver and the company the driver works for responsible after an accident.
Source: KATC, “Fatal Crash Involving a Garbage Truck on LA Hwy 415”, September 06, 2014
