Police in Louisiana believe that a man might have been under the influence of alcohol when he hit and struck a man out riding a bicycle. The bicyclist was killed in the collision. Authorities have since arrested the driver thought to be responsible for the accident.
State authorities responded to the scene of the accident on Dec. 24, 2018 at around 6 p.m. They found that a 61-year-old man had been traveling by bicycle along LA 101 when he was hit by a passing pickup truck. The driver of the pickup did not stop and render aid, and instead continued driving and did not stop until he had reached his place of residence. Police caught up with the 48-year-old pickup driver soon after.
He was not injured and complied with requests to submit to a Breathalyzer test. According to police, his blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit. He has since been charged with careless operation, a hit-and-run, vehicular homicide and having an expired motor vehicle inspection. At last update he was booked into an area correctional center.
It is possible that additional charges will come to light as Louisiana authorities continue to investigate the deadly collision, but that does not mean that defendants in this situation should wait to focus on their criminal defense. Allegations of drunk driving can have severe consequences for defendants, so early preparation is often key to minimizing undesirable outcomes. Many people find that this is more easily accomplished with the helpful guidance of an experienced attorney.
