A mother faces multiple charges after she allegedly drove off the road while intoxicated, causing serious injuries to her four children.
State troopers say that 29-year-old Kate Davis lost control of her 2005 Buick while northbound on U.S. Highway 165 near State Highway 101. The van left the road, entered a ditch, smashed into a culvert, and went airborne before eventually coming to rest in another ditch. The vehicle caught fire, and a passing motorist — whose name was not released — pulled the children out of the burning wreckage, sustaining severe burns in the process. All the serious injury victims were transported to local hospitals, but they are all expected to survive. [Read more…] about Good Samaritan Rescues Children From Burning Vehicle
Truck Accident
Fireball 18-Wheeler Wreck On I-20
A motorist was killed when she collided with a large truck on Interstate 20.
The truck wreck occurred near Kilgore. According to police and witnesses, 62-year-old Melvin Edwards, of Shreveport, was operating his 18-wheeler eastbound in the outside lane when 77-year-old Amando Vega, of Chicago, Ill., pulled from the improvised shoulder onto the outside lane very close to Mr. Edwards’ truck. Upon impact, Mr. Vega’s car hit the guardrail and then ping-ponged back into the outside lane, where it became wedged between the large truck’s cab and trailer. The entangled vehicles caught fire and eventually came to rest on the improvised shoulder.
Mr. Vega was declared dead at the scene; Mr. Edwards was rushed to a nearby hospital, but he is expected to survive his injuries. [Read more…] about Fireball 18-Wheeler Wreck On I-20
Lawsuit Filed in the Aftermath of Cement Truck Accident
Companies in Louisiana are responsible for ensuring that their employees receive the proper training needed to safely use all equipment, including any large commercial vehicles that workers are required to drive in the course of their employment. When an employee is involved in an accident while driving one of the company’s commercial vehicles, one of the questions that will need answering is whether the driver received the proper training. In fact, this is one of the questions presented in a lawsuit filed by the victim of a cement truck accident.
Documents reveal that, on Oct. 24, 2014, the victim was traveling on Jefferson Davis Parkway in the southern part of Louisiana. Allegedly, the driver of a cement truck broadsided the plaintiff’s vehicle. The driver of the truck reportedly failed to maintain control of the vehicle. The accident occurred when the truck failed to remain in its lane. The lawsuit alleges that the driver’s employer did not provide the proper training needed to safely maneuver the cement truck on the state’s roadways.
The victim suffered injuries serious enough to require a surgical procedure. It is claimed that the victim suffered permanent injury and is disfigured as a result. Further, the injured driver sustained — and may continue to sustain — medical expenses, lost wages and a diminished earning capacity, among other damages. The court will be responsible for determining whether damages should be awarded to the plaintiff.
First, however, the court will ascertain whether the truck driver was negligent and caused or contributed to the injuries suffered by the plaintiff in this cement truck accident. A determination will also need to be made regarding whether the employer provided the driver with the appropriate training, as is alleged in the pleadings — even though an employer can be held liable for the actions of its employees without being negligent itself. If negligence is successfully established, the driver and the company by which the driver was employed may both be held liable for any damages awarded to the victim.
Fatal Truck Accident Takes the Life of Louisiana Man
All drivers have a duty to exercise care and control while on Louisiana’s roadways. Truck drivers have the same duty, but due to the size and weight of 18-wheelers, their need to exercise caution may be considered even greater. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that in a truck accident, the damage to both people and property can be immeasurably worse.
A truck driver traveling the roads of Louisiana found this out the hard way. As the trucker traveled south on U.S. Highway 425, he approached a curve. As he negotiated the curve, his tractor trailer drifted into the opposing lane of traffic.
Unfortunately, there was a vehicle in the northbound lane at the time. The truck slammed into the pickup truck. The 61-year-old man in that vehicle suffered fatal injuries to which he succumbed at the scene.
The Louisiana State Police is handling the investigation into this crash. So far, the 71-year-old truck driver has only been cited for careless operation. It is not known whether additional charges are being contemplated.
While authorities finish their investigation, the family of the pickup truck driver is undoubtedly attempting to adjust to life without him. Numerous unexpected expenses, along with the loss of his income, are only two of the ways his death will affect them. Fortunately, they retain the right to file a wrongful death claim in connection with this truck accident. Both the driver and his employer may be found liable for damages if the family successfully proves negligence on the driver’s part.
Louisiana Authorities Work to Determine Cause of Truck Accident
Sometimes determining the cause of an accident is more difficult than other times. Investigators are left with pieces of a puzzle that they have to work backwards to put together. A motorcycle vs. truck accident that took place on Feb. 27 on a Louisiana expressway presents this type of challenge to investigators.
Police responded to a call of an accident at around 9:30 p.m. on that Thursday night. Upon arrival, they discovered a man lying on the street. Emergency personnel were unable to revive the man who apparently succumbed to fatal injuries received in an accident.
Preliminary reports indicate that a tractor-trailer and motorcycle were headed the same direction on the Westbank Expressway through Gretna. Somehow, the motorcycle ended up underneath the trailer, which rolled over the motorcycle killing its rider. Police do not yet know how this happened.
Whether any charges are being considered in this crash is not yet known. Until the investigation is complete, that information may not be released. Additionally, the identity of the victim was not revealed at last report since authorities had not yet contacted his next of kin to inform them of his sudden death.
This man’s family may have more questions than answers in the days and weeks ahead, which may only exacerbate their grief. As time passes, the family may exercise its right under Louisiana law to file a wrongful death claim against the party or parties deemed responsible for the victim’s death. The details gathered by authorities in this unfortunate truck accident may be useful in proving negligence in this case, which could lead the court to award the family damages that could lessen the financial burden placed on it due to the passing of the victim.
Multiple 18-Wheeler Accident Causes Chaos on Louisiana Bridge
It took law enforcement officials and crews from two states to investigate and clean up a crash that occurred on the Louisiana side of a bridge on Interstate 20. During the multiple 18-wheeler accident, a truck carrying sodium hydroxide was rear-ended. The flammable and corrosive liquid began leaking into the river, requiring a response from hazardous material teams.
At first, authorities believed the chemical leaking into the river was chloropropionic acid. The acid is a chemical used in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. It was not until later that officials properly identified the chemical.
The initial accident involved six semi-trucks on the Mississippi River Bridge. Additional collisions occurred afterward. Reports indicate that several vehicles were involved in addition to the trucks. Numerous injuries were reported, but fortunately, no fatalities occurred in any of those accidents.
Louisiana State Police did not reveal whether they know how the initial accident among the semi-trucks happened. It could take some time to sort out the details of not only the initial accident, but also the collisions that subsequently occurred. The nature and extent of the injuries suffered in the crashes were not reported.
In accordance with Louisiana law, many of the injured may be entitled to file personal injury claims seeking damages for the injuries suffered in connection with this 18-wheeler accident. The challenge could be to determine which driver or drivers may be deemed financially responsible. In these cases, police reports could prove useful in seeking to establish liability. If negligence is proved, a civil court may consider an award of damages to cover medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering.