On Sept. 3, local police arrested two people in connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident that took place in New Orleans on July 27. Authorities allege that they were riding a stolen all-terrain vehicle and crashed into a woman who was standing outside of a nightclub.
According to New Orleans police, the incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. outside of Kermit Ruffin’s Mother-in-Law Lounge, which is located at the intersection of Columbus Street and North Claiborne Avenue. Surveillance video shows that the driver of the ATV and his female passenger were thrown from the ATV in the accident. They fled the accident scene without attempting to help the victim. The woman who was hit by the ATV was hospitalized but never regained consciousness and died on Aug. 5 after being taken off life support.
Police were able to gather information on the suspects after taking a 26-year-old man into custody on Sept. 2. The surveillance video showed the man shielding the female passenger of the ATV and helping her leave the scene of the accident. He was charged with obstruction of justice and accessory to manslaughter, and the suspects in the hit-and-run were located the following day. The alleged driver of the ATV, 25, was charged with manslaughter and illegal possession of stolen property. The alleged passenger, also 25, was charged with accessory to manslaughter and illegal possession of stolen property as well.
The surviving family members of a someone killed in an accident might choose to file a wrongful death claim in civil court to recover damages suffered as a result of the victim’s death. These damages might include economic damages such as those for medical bills, funeral and burial expenses and the loss of financial support.
Source: nola.com, “Police arrest couple they say fatally injured woman in hit-and-run ATV incident“, September 03, 2014
