Two lives were lost in a three-vehicle accident near the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Initial reports have not revealed if any criminal charges will be filed in this multi-vehicle truck accident. The names of the victims were not initially released, and it is not clear if there were other injuries in addition to the two fatalities.
According to authorities, it appears the accident happened like this. First, a car struck a guardrail. After that impact, the vehicle spun in the road and came to rest in the left lane, facing oncoming traffic. A car-hauling, 18-wheeler approaching the scene managed to stop and stayed in the far left lane with the aim of protecting the wrecked car. Next, reports say a street sweeper, traveling very fast, struck the rear of the 18-wheeler, killing the driver and a passenger in the sweeper.
It was not disclosed if blood toxicology exams were administered to anyone involved in the fatal crash. If so, the results would help determine if any impairment contributed to the initial impact with the guardrail or the subsequent collision. The families of the two deceased victims will likely remain interested in following the course of the official investigation as they seek answers and struggle to come to terms with the tragedy.
It is possible under Louisiana law for surviving family members to pursue wrongful death claims on behalf of their loved ones when evidence indicates that the fatalities resulted from the negligence of other parties. From the preliminary evidence in this truck accident, there seem to be a series of questions surrounding liability that deserve to be answered.
Source: WAFB-TV, “Deadly crash closes I-10 West over spillway,” The Associated Press, Sept. 14, 2012