A 59-year-old man stopped on the side of I-10 in Kenner last week to let his dog go to the bathroom. After putting his dog back in the car, a vehicle hit him as he walked around to the driver’s side. According to a report at nola.com, the driver that hit the man left the scene of the car accident.
Luckily, a witness to the hit-and-run followed the suspect and informed police of his whereabouts. When police officers pulled the suspect over, his speech was slurred and he denied hitting the victim with his car. Police arrested him and he failed a failed a field sobriety test at the Kenner jail. The victim remains in the hospital in critical condition.
The 64-year-old suspect told police he took various painkillers. Police charged him with first-degree negligent injuring, reckless driving and hit-and-run.
While it is dangerous to get out of your vehicle on the side of the highway, it is even more dangerous to drive while under the influence of any substance. Prescription painkillers can be just as lethal to a driver as alcohol, as they can slow reaction time and cause drowsiness.
In the above case, investigators are awaiting for results of the victim’s blood analysis from the state crime lab.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans accident attorneys