Drunk Driver

First Annual Bicycle Safety Festival! June 4 from 9 am-12 pm @ Parc Sans Souci-Downtown Lafayette

May 18, 2016 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

The first annual Bicycle Safety Festival will be held on June 4th from 9am-12pm at Parc Sans Souci in downtown Lafayette. The Bicycle Safety Festival is presented by Lafayette Consolidated Government, Bike Lafayette, and Broussard, David & Moroux. There will be free adult and youth bicycle helmets for the first 300 participants, free bike registration, free safety training and instruction, and participants are eligible to win a free bicycle (valued at $300 – courtesy of Hub City Cycles). Additionally, there will be food, refreshments and musical entertainment by Zydeco Radio.

In Acadiana, there have been far too many cyclists injured in preventable bicycle accidents. The aim of this event is to help cyclists and motorists become more knowledgeable about bicycle safety and the rules of the road. As Lafayette Consolidated Government embraces more bicycle lanes and smarter growth, bicycle awareness is becoming even more essential.

Broussard, David & Moroux, a law firm located in downtown Lafayette, has a great deal of experience in representing people catastrophically injured in bicycle related accidents. In sponsoring this event, the partners at Broussard, David & Moroux hope that — through education and training — the roads will be safer for bicyclists, motorists and pedestrians alike.

Crash on Lake Pontchartrain Bridge HospitalizesTwo, Forces 90-Minute Closure

February 23, 2016 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A collision on the Lake Pontchartrain Bridge caused a 90-minute closure and left two women with moderate injuries last Friday.

Alvin Kimbrel of Belle Chasse was cited for careless driving after failing to recognize a vehicle as stalled in the right lane of the southbound side of the highway. Kimbrel’s Ford F250 hit the other vehicle, a Dodge Ram containing driver, Alicia Lee, and passenger, Kala Perkins, at 65 miles per hour. The force of impact pushed the Ram approximately 434 feet and caused it to catch fire, according to authorities. The two women were aided in escaping the burning vehicle by a state trooper who was near the scene at the time.

According to reports, the Dodge Ram had experienced engine failure while on the Bridge and had coasted to a stop. Despite having its emergency flashers activated, Kimbrel failed to recognize that the vehicle was stopped and thus did not take evasive action. Kimbrel’s Ford flipped and landed on its wheels, blocking the remainder of the highway.

Wrongful-Death Suit Filed In Relation to Parade Incident

February 17, 2016 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

An incident during last year’s Krewe of Excalibur Carnival parade in Metairie has resulted in civil repercussions. Don J. Dauzat, 52, was struck and killed by an allegedly drunk motorist who was purportedly pursued by a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Deputy at the time. Now, Dazuat’s family has filed a wrongful-death suit in the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna, naming the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Excalibur, King Arthur, PFJ Float Co., and others as defendants.

According to the suit, Dauzat had finished dropping off the float he was pulling for the Excalibur parade and was transporting a tractor to a staging area for the Knights of King Arthur parade. It was at this time, about 2:50 a.m., that he was struck by a 2002 Ford Explorer driven by Michael Burrle near Lapalco Boulevard and Paxton Street in Harvey. The impact caused the tractor to roll approximately 70 feet and flung Dauzat from it, resulting in severe injuries to his skull and brain. He was transported to a New Orleans hospital but died less than a day later from his injuries.

Burrle was booked on suspicion of DWI and was eventually charged with vehicular homicide to which he plead not guilty.

18-wheeler Incident on Parade Route Leaves Four Injured

February 2, 2016 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A New Orleans parade route had a bit of an interruption on Friday, January 29, when an 18-wheeler struck a tree along the route. The impact caused a large branch to fall on six people, injuring four.

The four Oshun and Cleopatra attendees were treated for minor injuries, according to New Orleans Police Department. Local fire department and emergency personnel were also on the scene, which occurred at the intersection of Amelia Street and Saint Charles Avenue.

According to nola.com, a witness stated that it looked like the driver was attempting to avoid the crowd when he struck the tree at around 7:50 p.m. A city clean-up crew arrived to cut and transport the branch to clear the street. The work was completed at around 10 p.m.

Crash In Crown Point Leaves One Dead, Three Injured

January 19, 2016 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A two-vehicle crash involving four individuals occurred last Sunday in Crown Point. Two were injured, one of whom, Susan Tiano, 71 of Lexington, Massachusetts, was later pronounced dead at University Medical Center in New Orleans, according to reports.

The incident occurred at the intersection of Bataria Boulevard and Leo Kerner Lafitte Parkway at 5 p.m. January 9, 2015. According to the investigating officers, Tiano was a passenger in a 2015 Nissan Versa driven by Anton Becker, 75 of Newport, Massachusetts. The Versa was driving southbound on Bataria, when, after turning left and disregarding a stop sign, it collided with a 2004 Nissan Titan driven by a Marrero man.

The two occupants of the Titan as well as Marrero were taken to a local hospital for minor injuries. Tiano, who suffered injuries significantly more severe was brought to University Medical Center by paramedics.

New Year’s Eve Crash Leaves One Dead, Two Injured

January 6, 2016 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A three-vehicle crash on New Year’s Eve left one dead and others injured, according to Louisiana State Police.

Jocelyn Tennart, 45 of Zachary, was traveling eastbound on West Flanacher Road in East Baton Rouge Parish around 8 p.m. last Thursday. Simultaneously, Marion Fuller, 71, was traveling south on U.S. 61. Tennart was driving a Saturn car while Fuller was in a Chevrolet Silverado.

For reasons yet to be determined, Tennart failed to yield at the intersection of the two roads causing her to come into the path of the Silverado. The impact occurred on the Saturn’s driver side and Tennart, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene by the East Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office.

Bicycling Teen Killed By Speeding Motorist

December 15, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A Gonzales man is being charged with negligent homicide over the death of a Baton Rouge high school freshman last Wednesday.

On December 9, Brennan Rube, 14 years old of Prairieville, was bicycling on LA-73 when he was struck by a 2000 Dodge truck driven by Joshua Ashford, 26-years-old of Gonzales. The force of impact flung Rube from his bicycle. He was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene. The crash happened around 6 p.m., according to Louisiana State Police.

Both vehicles were traveling in the same direction and Rube was struck by the front right side of Ashford’s truck. According to the police report, Ashford was speeding on a road with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. Police do not suspect Ashford of being impaired at the time of the accident, however a routine toxicology test is pending.

Two Motorcyclists Pronounced Dead After Collision with 18-Wheeler

December 8, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A three-vehicle crash in Delcambre resulted the death of an uncle and nephew from Abbeville, according to police reports.

On November 26, 2015, Jones Mitchell and Gerald Mitchell were traveling west on Suzuki motorcycles on LA 14 and approaching an east-west crossover. An 18-wheeler, driven by Earnest Comesana Jr., was traveling east on LA 14 and approaching the same crossover. Comesana turned left into the crossover to begin traveling east and the Mitchells were unable to avoid colliding with Comesana’s trailer as it entered their lane of travel.

Although the Mitchell’s were wearing Department of Transportation-approved helmets, both received fatal injuries as a result of the collision and were pronounced dead at the scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. Comensana was properly restrained at the time of the crash and received no injuries.

Failure to Yield Leaves One Dead

December 1, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

Failure to obey a stop sign and suspected driving under the influence has lead to the death of a Ventress man last Friday.

Louisiana State Police has not completed its investigation, but according to initial findings, 27-year-old Nicholas Porche was driving westbound on Section Road in a white Sierra while Michael Holmes, 53-years-old of Ventress, was driving south on Beuche Road in a red F-150 around 5:30 on Friday, November 20. The crash took place at the intersection of both roads near Erwinville.

According to officials, Porche ran the stop sign at the intersection of Beuche and Section, causing the accident. Holmes was pronounced dead at the scene by the West Baton Rouge Coroner’s Office. Porche was wearing his seat belt at the time and received minor injuries, but refused aid.

Man Responsible for Vehicular Homicide Sentenced

November 9, 2015 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A drunk driver that caused an accident which lead to a man’s death was sentenced in Calcasieu Parish last Wednesday.

On September 27, 2014, Derek Paul Cooper was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-10 in the Sulphur area. He had a blood alcohol level of .24, three times the legal limit. He collided with a car driven by Jeremy Olivier, age thirty-one, who died as a result.

At Cooper’s sentencing on Wednesday, Judge Ron Ware ordered Cooper to 18 years in prison, with three years suspended and credit for time served. Judge Ware also ordered that the first five years of the sentence be served without benefit of probation, suspension, or parole. Cooper will be on supervised parole for 2 years following his release.