A 23-year-old woman is dead following an accident in Plaquemines Parish, according to local sources. Louisiana authorities say the suspected drunk driving accident took place the morning of June 19. The driver believed responsible for the tragedy is in police custody facing criminal charges.
The accident report states that a 23-year-old woman from out of state was walking south on Louisiana 23 around 4:30 a.m. when the accident occurred. A pickup truck driven by a man of indeterminate age allegedly struck the woman as she was walking. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
The man was taken into custody after officers administered a Breathalyzer test which indicated his blood alcohol level was somewhere above the .08 legal limit in Louisiana. There was no mention in the report of how this test was administered or whether it coincided with the rights afforded to the accused man under state law. He was arrested under suspicion of drunk driving.
It will be up to Louisiana authorities to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the man involved in this car accident was indeed drunk behind the wheel when the unfortunate fatality took place. A drunk driving charge will require them to place him at the wheel with a blood alcohol level of over .08 at the time of the collision to hold up in court. If the test was incorrectly administered or if his rights were in any way impeded during the course of the investigation, any evidence offered with regard to the testing could be ruled inadmissible in court.
Source: nola.com, “Drunk driver hits, kills Alabama woman in Plaquemines Parish”, Robert McClendon, June 19, 2016