Laplace, Louisiana — 18-year-old Seamus Cassidy of Arnaudville and 32-year-old Oger Ivan Mejia-Puentes of Honduras were killed in a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 seven miles from LA 3188.
According to reports, Cassidy was westbound in a 1996 BMW when she crashed into a disabled tow truck partially blocking the left lane. Mejia-Puentes was also traveling westbound in a 2006 Ford F-150 when he also struck the disabled tow truck. The tow truck was disabled in the median after the driver of the truck lost control for unknown reasons.
Cassidy and Mejia-Puentes both suffered fatal injuries in the crash. A preliminary investigation reveals that both were properly restrained.
No further information was immediately available.
The actions of the tow truck driver must be investigated to ensure the surviving families receive justice
This is a terrible accident that has left two seemingly innocent motorists dead. Why the crash happened will need to be determined to ensure the surviving family receives the justice they deserve.
First, it will need to be determined why the tow truck lost control and crashed in the first place. It is likely that the driver was distracted or committed some type of error. In this case, the driver and his company cannot escape liability by claiming that the other drivers should have avoided the truck. You cannot create a dangerous situation from your own negligence and then escape liability. However, it may be that the truck experienced a mechanical failure of some kind, requiring a further investigation into the cause of failure and a determination of who was responsible. If the truck crashed because of a defect or issue with the truck caused by the manufacturer or a third-party service company, those parties might be partially responsible for this crash.
It will then need to be determined what the truck driver did to protect other motorists from striking his vehicle. The fact that multiple vehicles hit the disabled truck indicates that the truck was in a dangerous location. Drivers, even those involved in accidents, must take precautions to protect other motorists from serious injury or death. What actions were taken here to help prevent other motorists from hitting the disabled truck?
The families of the deceased victims in this crash deserve a thorough investigation and an opportunity to hold all wrongdoers accountable for their loved ones’ passing. This is a terrible wreck that has ended the life of multiple people and will leave their families mourning for the rest of their lives. That is not fair, and if any wrongdoing by others’ caused this to happen, the families should have a right to hold them accountable if they choose to do so.
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The Ammons Law Firm represents clients nationwide in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation, with extensive experience in complex auto/tire defect and commercial vehicle cases.
Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice. Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources or is the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.
