Louisiana Lawyer BlogMan Responsible for Vehicular Homicide Sentenced
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.
When his time came to speak, Cooper stood before the court and expressed remorse for his actions, stating he was truly sorry and wished that it was Cooper himself who died in the accident.
Olivier is survived by his wife and infant daughter. Olivier’s niece, Maaliyah Papillion, recently became Miss Louisiana, and is using her success to increase awareness about the tragic consequences of drunk driving.
In addition to potential criminal charges, the victims of these accidents or their families could file suit seeking compensation for their injuries. The attorneys at Broussard, David & Moroux have the knowledge and experience necessary to handle cases of this nature and will fight to obtain fair compensation for your injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered harm because of the fault of another, contact the attorneys at Broussard, David & Moroux to discuss your legal rights at (337) 233-2323 (local) or (888) 337-2323 (toll-free).