A Louisiana driver was killed in an April 24 accident in the southbound lane of Louisiana Highway 3127. The 19-year-old man was driving a Camaro when he attempted to pass several other vehicles, according to Louisiana State Police Troop C. It was raining when the Camaro driver lost control of his vehicle, which spun clockwise as it was passing a 2010 Dodge Ram, driven by a 51-year-old man from Reserve.
As it passed, the Camaro was struck on the driver’s side door. Although the Camaro driver was wearing a seat belt, he suffered fatal injuries from the accident, and the St. James Parish Coroner’s Office pronounced him dead at the scene. The other driver was also wearing a seat belt and was treated for moderate injuries at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.
Authorities had not released the results of the routine toxicology tests that were performed on the 19-year-old driver as of April 25. The Louisiana State Police Crime Lab continues to investigate the cause of the accident. According to Louisiana state law, all drivers and occupants must be restrained while traveling in a vehicle. Even though all those involved in the accident were following this law, it remains to be seen whether there were any other precautions the deceased driver could have taken to prevent the accident.
Car accident injuries such as those suffered by the surviving Ram driver can result in serious financial hardship, from lost wages to medical expenses. Even though the Camaro driver is deceased, the other driver may still be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against his estate if it is determined that he acted negligently while driving. While intoxication is one possible reason why a driver may be found responsible for damages, negligent or reckless driving may also determine liability.
Source: KATC, “Luling Man Killed in St. James Parish Crash,” April 25, 2015
