Racing Commission Chairman Jeremy Meaux in Fatal Accident

Louisiana horse racing fans may recall that Jerry Meaux was the chairman of the state’s racing commission. The longtime horseman was appointed as chairman in 2008. He served in that capacity until recently when he was involved in a fatal accident.
As Meaux traveled on Louisiana Highway 342, another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction veered out of his lane and into Meaux’s lane. With no time to react, the two vehicles collided head-on. Meaux, age 74, suffered severe injuries and did not survive long enough to be taken to a hospital.
The 22-year-old driving the vehicle that hit Meaux’s pickup truck was taken into custody. He is currently charged with vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated and failing to maintain his lane. The investigation is ongoing.
If it turns out that the driver was intoxicated, this case may serve as a reminder to others not to drink and drive. With all of the information available regarding the dangers of driving under the influence, people still often get behind the wheel of a car after they have consumed alcohol. Each year, drunk drivers kill thousands of people. Sadly, Meaux is now part of those statistics.
The wife he left behind may struggle with adjusting to life without her husband. Fortunately, it appears that she has plenty of family to rally around her in her time of grief. It will not bring her husband back, but she may exercise her right to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible driver. Proving his negligence could result in her receiving an award for the damages she incurred as a result of the fatal accident that left her a widow.