In some crashes, it is difficult to determine who was driving. This is usually the case when all of the occupants of the vehicle died in the car accident, and the placement of the bodies does not allow for an easy identification of the driver. This was most likely the case in a recent wreck that the Louisiana State Police are investigating.
What is known at this time is that two men occupying a vehicle were traveling Louisiana Highway 182. At some point, the driver must have lost control of the vehicle because it left the road and struck a tree. It then flipped over and came to rest partially submerged in Bayou Black.
A 21-year-old man and a 23-year-old man both suffered fatal injuries in the crash that they succumbed to before emergency personnel arrived at the scene. Troopers say neither man was properly restrained at the time of the crash, which may be why they are unable to determine who was driving. It may take some time to figure out the details.
These details are not only important to the investigation, but also to the families of the two dead men. Both families may benefit from an understanding of their rights and responsibilities in connection with this fatal car accident. This is because the estate of the driver of the vehicle could face a wrongful death suit from the family of the other man. If that claim is successful, the family of the man who was not driving could receive an award of damages based upon evidence of driver negligence.
Source: knoe.co, “2 killed in Terrebonne Parish accident”, Courtney Collins, Oct. 9, 2014