Law enforcement takes seriously the duty to protect people from the danger of drivers whose reflexes and attention may be impaired. In Louisiana, the penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are justifiably severe. When an allegedly intoxicated driver is also suspected of hurting or killing someone while behind the wheel, a charge of vehicular assault or homicide may be added.
A Louisiana man was recently arrested after he allegedly hit a man who was crossing a bridge. The 36-year-old pedestrian was walking in the eastbound lane of the bridge around 2 a.m. when a car struck and killed him. The driver of the car did not stop.
Soon after the incident, police say they received a call from someone who claimed to know the driver who hit the pedestrian. Police located the suspect and administered an alcohol breath test. The test apparently showed that the man was over the legal limit, and he was arrested. He was charged with hit and run, vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated.
It is likely that the Louisiana man has contacted an attorney to help him build a defense against the vehicular assault or homicide charges. An attorney will certainly want to examine the scene of the accident to determine how easily a pedestrian could be seen in the dark of night. More seriously, he may question the validity of the breath test and whether the man was intoxicated at the time of the accident. Also, an experienced lawyer may be able to negotiate a plea agreement if necessary.
Source: wbrz.com, “Driver arrested after deadly hit-and-run on the Old Bridge“, Trey Couvillion, Aug. 20, 2016
