Baton Rouge readers may be surprised to know that a police officer has now been charged in a two-car accident. According to reports, the man faces a DUI because of the Jan. 24 accident. It was reported that the two-vehicle crash took place on the I-12 near the Sherwood Forest Boulevard exit, and it was allegedly caused by a 40-year-old woman who lost control of her vehicle.
According to reports, the 32-year-old officer was arrested on the morning of Jan. 24 on a DUI charge, but it may not have been him who caused the accident. The reports claim that the woman lost control of her vehicle while traveling eastbound near the officer, and her car was flipped onto its side. The officer reportedly helped get the woman out of her vehicle after the accident, and the police were called to get assistance.
While initial reports claim that the icy roadways were likely a factor in the accident, the officer is still on administrative leave. It’s been reported that it’s not clear if the man had anything to do with the accident, although it’s still under investigation. The officer is a 5-year veteran of the department, but he now must wait for an internal investigation to be completed before he can return to work, if allowed.
In cases like these, what you’ve done may have no impact on an accident. You may not be the one at fault, but you could be facing penalties for drinking or being under the influence anyway. If you find yourself in this kind of difficult situation, you may want to seek representation.
Source: Nola.com, “Baton Rouge police officer charged with a DUI Friday morning after being involved in 2-car accident” Quincy Hodges, Jan. 24, 2014