Sunday, December 11, a large eucalyptus tree fell on top of a wedding party at Penn Park in Whittier, killing one person and injuring at least five others.
According to the reports, the wedding ceremony has just ended and guests were taking photos with the newly married couple when a 100-foot tall eucalyptus tree fell. At least 20 people were trapped under the tree’s branches and had to be extricated by local paramedics using chainsaws.
One person was killed as a result of the incident. No identification has been released. Five people, including a child, sustained minor to moderate injuries. They were rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
A search dog was brought to the site to help look for any remaining possible victims trapped under the tree.
Investigators were also requested to the scene to determine what caused the tree to fall.
A fatal car accident killed one person and injured at least three people on Interstate 10, Sunday afternoon.
The Louisiana State Patrol responded to the scene after receiving a report of a multi-vehicle crash at approximately 5:30 p.m. According to a report, a Pontiac Grand was heading west of the highway when its driver suddenly lost control and crashed into the center median. It continued on and crossed through the eastbound lanes where it was struck by a passing Chevrolet Equinox.
Two passengers in the Pontiac, identified as a 25-year-old woman and a 5-year-old child, and three occupants of the Chevrolet sustained moderate to serious injuries. They were transferred to a local hospital for treatment.
Authorities later identified the 25-year-old female passenger as Ciara Lemon. She succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.
The driver of the Pontiac was identified as 24-year-old Kilian Webster. He was taken into custody and charged for reckless driving, having a child unrestrained in the vehicle, and operating with a suspended driver’s license. It was not clear if he was injured.
A three-vehicle collision on Wednesday, October 26th in Tickfaw injured one and killed another.
Hammond Police officers were trying to stop a vehicle driven by Darious Rashaad Ashton, 21. Ashton didn’t stop and resumed driving northward on Highway 1065. Upon reaching Sims Lane, he turned around going back to Hwy 1065. Ashton ignored a stop sign and struck a car driven by 20-year-old Trey Thomas. Shortly afterwards, a dump truck driven by 36-year-old Daniel Funderburk hit Ashton’s vehicle.
Police say that Ashton didn’t have his seat-belt fastened at the time of the accident. He was taken to North Oaks Medical Center in critical condition, but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. Thomas was wearing his seat belt and was brought to the hospital with minor injury. Funderburk was not harmed in the crash.
The Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory collected blood samples for analysis.
In a two-vehicle head-on accident that took place on Thursday morning, October 13, on US 190 West, two people were gravely injured—one died later.
According to a report from the Louisana State Police, one of the drivers, 68-year-old Harold Burgeron, made a questionable left turn onto Grey Eagle Road where he passed into the path of eastbound, 33-year-old Adam Andres. The two vehicles hit front-to-front.
Both operators were buckled, according to the investigation, but both suffered severe injuries and had to be taken to the hospital. Bergeron would die later that day. The investigation has not led anyone to believe that either of the two men were intoxicated at the time of the crash and toxicology samples were retrieved from the drivers.
The car accident lawyers of Cazayoux Ewing Law Firm send their thoughts to the victim and his loved ones and wish the injured party a speedy recovery.
A hit and run in Bayou St. John resulted in a cyclist sustaining multiple injuries after a driver in a white sedan struck her and then sped off.
Video taken by a neighbor shows the cyclist, identified as Michelle Phillips, riding away from the Mississippi River on Esplanade Avenue. As she traverses Crete Street, a white sedan reaches the intersection and collides with her. A stop sign is present on the Crete intersection.
New Orleans police responded to a call about the accident at 6:09 p.m. Philips was rushed to a hospital in an ambulance and treated for cracked vertebra and ribs. She was released Thursday.
In a separate incident that occurred two weeks prior, Rebekah Abernathy was struck by a driver while also riding a bicycle as she passed Magazine Street in front of the World War II Museum.
If have been involved in an accident that left you with significant injuries, the Cazayoux Ewing Law Firm can help you find a legal remedy. To discuss the details of your claim, please call our offices in Baton Rouge at (225) 650-7400 today.
The kind of prolonged medical and rehabilitative care that accident victims often need to recover from catastrophic injuries can become prohibitively expensive early on in the process of recovery. That being said, accident victims should retain legal representation as early on after the incident as they are able. At the Cazayoux Ewing Law Firm, our Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers understand just how much may depend on the outcome of this claim for you, and we can help you take any legal action necessary to hold the responsible party accountable for your pain and suffering.
Personal Injury Claims Our Firm Handles
Our legal team has the experience and the resources that you will need to aggressively pursue compensation with personal injury claim associated with the following:
If you’ve been hurt in an accident as a result of someone else’s mistake, there is no reason that you should be in the situation you are in right now, and we can help you do what is necessary to put this legal matter behind you once and for all. These kinds of injuries are catastrophic and can have lifelong consequences. If you’ve been hurt in such a way, you may be able to fight for compensation that will help with your current and future medical expenses. Get in touch with a catastrophic injury lawyer to learn more.
Consult with a Personal Injury Attorney in Baton Rouge
If you or someone you love was injured in an accident that was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person, you should reach out to an attorney to discuss what legal action you may be able to pursue against the responsible party. To speak with a Baton Rouge personal injury attorney from the Cazayoux Ewing Law Firm about the particulars of your claim, please call our offices at (225) 650-7400 today.
A total of seven people have been convicted of orchestrating an online fraud scheme that included counterfeit checks, suspicious shopper websites, and work-from-home scams.
One of the convicted is Ann Louis Franzen, a 70-year-old woman from Mississippi, who, along with four others, admitted to conspiring to steal identities and government property. They were each sentenced to five years in prison on September 7 by U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr.
The remaining two—Funso Hassan and Anthony Shane Jeffers, a 27-year-old from Nigeria and a 44-year-old from Tennessee—admitted to all of the same charges along with using mail and an interstate facility to transfer the funds of their illegal work. Both were sentenced to five more years than their five counterparts.
If you have been charged with committing wire fraud, you should speak with a Baton Rouge wire fraud defense attorney at Cazayoux Ewing Law Firm as early on in the legal process as you can. Please call our offices in Baton Rouge at (225) 650-7400 today.
A Florida driver died in a wrong-way head-on collision in Louisiana on Sunday, September 11 at 3 A.M. The crash also injured the other driver and a passenger in her car.
According to Louisiana State Police, the crash occurred on LA 21, roughly three miles south of Bogalusa. Daniel Elwood, 25, of Tallahassee, Florida, was killed at the scene while Jodi Vasbinder, 17, of Covington, and Nathan Nicolasi, 19, were injured in the crash.
Trooper Dustin Dwight with Louisiana State Police said a recent investigation showed Elwood was going southbound in the northbound lane of LA 21 in a 2005 Hyundai Elantra. The car collided with the 2005 Chrysler Sebring that Vasbinder drove. Elwood was not wearing a seat belt while Vasbinder and Nicolasi were properly buckled up.
Vasbinder was flown by helicopter to North Oaks Medical Center in Hammond with moderate injuries. Nicolasi was brought by ambulance to Our Lady of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa with minor injuries. Blood samples from all involved in the accident were sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis, and the investigation is still ongoing.
As Louisiana recovers from devastating flooding, scammers are sure to be taking advantage of the situation. FEMA has issued some guidelines to remember in order to avoid such fraudulent schemes.
In dealing with housing inspectors:
- FEMA inspector will never ask for the applicant’s nine-digit registration number as they should already have that information.
- They will not ask for personal details like your bank information.
- Inspectors will not hire or endorse contractors for home repairs as their sole job is to appraise the situation.
When working with contractors:
- You can verify a contractor’s license number through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors website.
- Get three written estimates before repair work begins and then check the contractor’s credentials by calling local Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce.
- Before work starts, thoroughly inspect the contract and get a copy, making sure you understand all details of work, cost, completion, and the remedy for changes and disputes.
- Take photos of the contractor and their work-related resources like their vehicle, license plate, driver’s license, or business card, photograph or scan their contract license and insurance, scan any checks and money orders paid to keep for your records.
If you suspect anyone posing as a disaster relief supporter, call the FEMA toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline or your local law enforcement officials.
If you have been accused of FEMA Fraud during a recent natural disaster, contact an attorney with Cazayoux Ewing Law Firm. Our attorneys understand how damaging a fraud charge can be on your career and personal life and are standing by to assist you in the legal process. Call us at (225) 650-7400 to discuss your options.
Recent storms in Louisiana have led to severe flooding and widespread devastation. The area has been named a federal disaster area, as thousands of homeowners are stranded in the waters with nowhere to go. However, residents of East Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa, Livingston, and St. Helena parishes may be able to acquire temporary housing and other benefits from FEMA.
There are currently no Disaster Recovery Centers open, as efforts are focusing on search and rescue operations, but you can apply for the numerous forms of federal assistance available at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/. You may also call FEMA directly at (800) 621-3362.
