A man is facing criminal charges after an accident in Lafayette that critically injured a pedestrian. The car accident occurred on a July Sunday around 2:30 a.m. The pedestrian was rushed to a local hospital and was listed in critical condition.

The accident occurred after a westbound vehicle on West University Avenue struck the pedestrian. Police responded to the accident and were investigating the incident, but the reason the pedestrian was in the roadway was not immediately apparent. However, the driver has since been arrested and is now facing charges of a first offense OWI and vehicular negligent injury.

The crash is being investigated by the traffic section of the Lafayette Police Department. When a car accident such as this occurs, it can be hard to understand the reasons behind it. Whether the pedestrian was in a marked crosswalk is not yet known, but what is known is the man whose car struck him had allegedly been drinking. No witnesses were reported so the investigation will likely be important to determine the circumstances surrounding this crash.

The pedestrian's family will undoubtedly want to know the reasons behind this Lafayette car accident. While there has been no word yet on any possible legal action from the pedestrian's family, they could still press forward with a personal injury claim on the victim's behalf against the driver. Of course, should the pedestrian ultimately not survive his or her injuries, the family would necessarily assess whether to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Criminal punishment is also a possibility for the driver, as the pending charges demonstrate. One thing is clear, however: nothing can change what has already occurred, and it will now be up to the law and perhaps the surviving family to pursue justice.

Source: KATC.com, "Pedestrian in Critical Condition after Being Struck By a Car," July 8, 2012