A devastating car accident on Highway 84 has claimed the life of a woman and injured other drivers and passengers. The three-car accident occurred on a Sunday afternoon in late March near Natchitoches. By the time police officers responded, a 55 year-old woman had already succumbed to her injuries and did not survive.

According to Louisiana State Police, an SUV driven by a 24-year-old Keithville native crossed the highway center line while traveling westbound on 84. The SUV then collided with a car driven by a 53-year-old Natchitoches man. After striking the car, the SUV spun onto the east shoulder of the highway, where it was hit again by a vehicle driven by a 44 year-old woman from Leesville.

The two occupants of the first car were badly injured in the head-on car accident. The male driver was rushed to an Alexandria hospital by ambulance, where his condition is currently unknown. His passenger was the woman who was killed in the crash.

Further investigation by Louisiana authorities will be necessary to determine if any additional charges will be laid against the driver of the SUV, who is currently charged with careless operation. When someone is killed in a car accident where the evidence suggests another party was at fault, wrongful death litigation on behalf of the bereaved is an appropriate avenue of civil recourse. The family of the deceased woman, as well as the other injured parties, retains the right to pursue litigation against the driver and any separate owner of the vehicle he was operating, based upon evidence that he negligently caused the fatal accident.

Source: The Republic, "State police investigate fatal 3 vehicle crash on US Highway 84 in Natchitoches Parish," March 25, 2013