One of the first safety rules that children learn is not to walk or stand close to moving traffic, so vehicles that are designed to have children nearby have a special look, and their drivers must learn to abide by special safety rules. For example, school buses have stop signs that project from the side of the bus that instruct drivers in both directions to stop until all the children at that stop have gotten on or off the bus. Participants in Mardi Gras krewes keep their eyes fixed on the children who gather around the floats to catch beads, a skill that requires a lot of practice, given all the bright lights and loud music associated with parades. Ice cream trucks warn children of their presence, playing “Turkey in the Straw” at a volume that people throughout the neighborhood can hear. The slow speeds and frequent stops of ice cream trucks are an annoyance to drivers, but they are a delight to children.
Last year in Jefferson Parish, a tragic accident involving an ice cream truck happened under most unlikely circumstances. If you have been injured in an accident involving a vehicle normally associated with above-average caution, contact a Houma car accident lawyer.
Jefferson Parish Boy Dies After Ice Cream Truck Crashes Through Wall Into His Room
In May 2023, a man was driving an ice cream truck on his usual route in Jefferson Parish. In a residential neighborhood, he ran through a stop sign and crashed his truck into an apartment building. A boy was in his bedroom in the apartment when the truck crashed through the wall. He died of injuries resulting from the accident. He was 12 years old.
The driver, 71, was charged with negligent homicide. He was taken to jail immediately after the accident, and police determined that he was not under the influence of alcohol. He posted bond the next day. The driver pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, expressing remorse and accepting responsibility for the accident. In May 2024, he received a sentence of five years of probation.
The 4WWL news site indicated that it is rare for people convicted of vehicular homicide to get probation-only sentences and avoid prison time. Factors that led to the driver’s avoidance of prison time may include his lack of criminal history, especially given his advanced age, and the fact that he was not under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs at the time of the accident. Even in fatal accidents where the at-fault driver does not get criminal charges, the families of victims have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court.
Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey About Car Accident Cases
A car accident lawyer can help you if you have been injured when a vehicle that requires extraordinary safety measures strikes you. Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey in Houma, Louisiana, to set up a consultation about your case.