A driver is accused of nine counts of negligent vehicular injuring, drunk driving and reckless driving after a car accident Tuesday afternoon. Authorities apparently believe that the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, although it is not clear what has led to that suspicion from a news report in The Times-Picayune. The 48-year-old man is charged with driving while intoxicated and the other offenses after allegedly running into the rear end of a car stopped behind a school bus.
St. Bernard Parish officials say that a school bus stopped to drop off students around 4:30 Tuesday afternoon on East St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette, Louisiana. Officials claim that the man accused of DWI ran into the rear of a car stopped behind the bus. The car that was struck reportedly was pushed under the school bus, trapping a woman who was behind the wheel of that car.
The woman was extricated from the vehicle, but authorities do not believe that she was seriously injured, according to the newspaper account. Several students apparently were shaken up when the school bus was jostled–say none of the students were seriously injured.
The man who is accused of causing the wreck was taken to jail and will face charges in criminal court. When a driver is accused of causing injury while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, authorities may add negligent injuring charges to the DWI case.
Our Baton Rouge area readers may be aware that if a person is killed in such an accident, prosecutors are likely to pursue vehicular negligent homicide charges. Any DWI charge carries potentially serious consequences, but allegations of a drunk driving crash can up the ante for a defendant. It is important for anyone accused of a DWI-related offense in the Baton Rouge area to consider seeking the help of a Louisiana DWI defense lawyer.
Source: The Times-Picayune, “St. Bernard driver booked with DWI after slamming into car and school bus, sheriff says,” Paula Devlin, April 30, 2013