It is always a tragedy when someone dies in a car accident. But, when the only other person involved in the accident flees the scene, no one will ever know if more immediate care to a fatally injured crash victim would’ve saved his or her life.
A Louisiana bicyclist riding near Louisiana 434’s fog line in Lacombe was recently struck by a car. The right front corner of the motor vehicle struck the bicycle and knocked the cyclist into the road. When emergency medical personal were summoned, the coroner’s office ultimately pronounced the bicyclist dead at the scene. A Louisiana State Police spokesman noted that the cyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but it is clear that this accident would not have happened had the driver not been traveling so close the bicyclist.
The motorist who struck the cyclist fled from the scene. The vehicle he was driving was located in a parking lot near the scene of the accident, but no one was in the vehicle. The Louisiana State Police have since arrested a man in connection with the fatal accident, and he has been charged with careless operation of a vehicle, improper passing of a bicycle, hit-and-run driving, and negligent homicide.
At this time, there is no further information about the accident, and it is not known why the alleged driver left the scene. If the man is convicted of these charges, he will face severe criminal penalties for his actions. The family of the man who was killed, however, may also choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver who so carelessly killed their loved one.
Source: The Times-Picayune, “Madisonville man arrested in fatal Lacombe bicycle hit and run,” Aug. 28, 2012
