Car accidents: 1 dead in crash involving moped

A Basile resident was killed on New Year’s Day in Evangeline Parish, according to state police. Louisiana State Troopers responded around 10 p.m. the evening of Jan. 1 to investigate a two-vehicle crash involving a car and a moped. Car accidents of any type can require considerable investigation, and while impairment is not considered a potential cause in this crash, the investigation remains underway as of this report.

According to preliminary information, a 56-year-old man was operating his moped, heading westbound in the right lane of U.S. 190, when the crash occurred. It appears his vehicle was struck from behind by a car driven by a 21-year-old woman. The force of the impact ejected the man from his vehicle and into a north ditch.

While the man was wearing a Department of Transportation-approved helmet at the time, he still suffered major injuries. He succumbed to those injuries at the site of the accident and was pronounced dead by coroners. State troopers say they are still submitting toxicology tests for both drivers as per standard procedure, but so far, no charges have been filed against the driver of the car.

In some car accidents, criminal charges are not filed by Louisiana authorities for a variety of reasons. However, state law still allows a grieving family to take additional punitive action, should they feel inclined to do so. Wrongful death lawsuits, which can be filed in civil court, do not rely upon a criminal conviction or even for charges to be filed against a driver believed to be materially responsible for a fatal accident. However, any civil case may be strengthened by police evidence, implicating the driver in question.