A 16-year-old girl from Shreveport died on the afternoon of July 6 after the car she was in was involved in a three-vehicle accident. She was a passenger in a 2003 Buick LeSabre driven by a 17-year-old girl who was also a Shreveport resident. The fatal accident took place just east of Louisiana Highway 157, on Interstate 20 at approximately 2:34 p.m.
The accident happened when the 17-year-old driver was driving east on the interstate. While law enforcement is looking into what caused the accident, it is known that the driver crossed into oncoming traffic. Every Louisiana resident should know that they deserve the same protection as a passenger as they do as a driver. This means that if the driver of the car in which a passenger is riding is negligent, careless or otherwise driving recklessly, the passenger has a right to seek compensation from the driver.
The 17-year-old hit a 2002 Toyota Sequoia heading west, driven by a 41-year-old woman from Minden. The Buick then continued on to hit a Peterbilt transport truck, driven by a 51-year-old man. Luckily, both drivers were able to escape without injury.
The 16-year-old front-seat passenger suffered critical injuries in the accident and was transported by air to Louisiana State University Hospital. Tragically, air ambulance staff and doctors at the hospital were unable to treat the passenger and she succumbed to her fatal injuries.
As police try to figure out just what happened in this accident, they are testing the blood of each of the drivers for alcohol. The toxicology reports are being prepared by the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab and, if the 17-year-old tested positive for alcohol, it would be evidence that the family of the passenger could use in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: Shreveport Times, “Louisiana state police working fatal accident,” July 6, 2012
