

The frequency of drunk driving tends to increase during seasonal events and holidays, including the state’s famous Mardi Gras festival, which takes place in New Orleans. In 2018, Louisiana ranked 9th in the nation for drunk driving fatalities per capita (4.64 per 100,000). Take a look at a few of the key reasons Louisiana poses a higher risk to cyclists than many other U.S. Why is Louisiana So Dangerous for Cyclists?
How many drunk drivers killed cyclists statistics driver#
There are several reasons for this, mainly owing to driver hostility toward cyclists, distracted driving, and driving under the influence. Louisiana routinely ranks around 2 nd or 3 rd for most bicyclist fatalities in the United States. In 2019, according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, there were 22 bicycle fatalities and 728 bicycle injuries in Louisiana. Unfortunately, it can also be dangerous, especially in Louisiana. It’s also an excellent form of physical exercise. We can be reached 24/ 7 at 1 86.Riding a bicycle can be an inexpensive, fun, and environmentally friendly alternative to driving a car. Our office in Farmington Hills, Oakland County as well as our main office in Lansing have attorneys available all over the lower peninsula of Michigan. Johnson of Kalamazoo.Īfter decades of helping clients all over Michigan with their criminal defense, the Kronzek Firm has extensive experience with these kind of felony cases. Runnels, 65, all of Richland, Michigan along with 40-year-old Jennifer L. The injured cyclists are 47-year-old Paul D. Sippel, all of Augusta, along with 73-year-old Fred Anton (Tony) Nelson, and 74-year-old Lorenz J. Those identified as deceased are 53-year-old Debra A. The people injured and killed in the crash were part of a bicycle group entitled “The Chain Gang”. Hopefully Pickett or his family will hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to assist him. The attorneys will be meeting for a pre-exam conference on June 22nd, and Pickett’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 29th, when his preliminary hearing takes place. Until then, however, Judge Santoni assigned him an attorney. Pickett told the judge that he is unemployed and takes care of his father but that he would speak to his parents about the possibility of hiring an attorney to handle his case. This coupled with the severity of the charges, Judge Santoni chose to deny bail. This was allegedly because of his recent residency in Tennessee. At his arraignment which finally took place last Friday afternoon, Kalamazoo County District Judge Richard Santoni said that Pickett was a flight risk. Pickett’s arraignment was initially delayed for medical reasons, although what that entails was never shared with the public. The fact that none of his charges include any reference to drunk driving indicates that so far, the prosecutor doesn’t see alcohol as a factor in this case. If he is convicted on all nine counts, Pickett is looking at the possibility of life in prison. , a 50-year-old resident of Battle Creek in Calhoun County, MI, is now being charged with five counts of second-degree murder, and four felony counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment. It was several days before authorities named the driver of the truck. Police say that after the crash, the driver fled on foot and was apprehended nearby. In total, five people were killed and four were seriously injured. They were in the process of attempting to locate the pickup truck when the cyclists were hit. But authorities have been very tight-lipped about this case.Īccording to police records, officers received several 911 calls about a driver who was swerving and veering in their lane mere minutes before the crash. There has been much speculation in the media about whether or not the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

As details of the tragic incident emerge, one piece of information is stark in its absence – the driver’s intoxication level at the time of the crash. Just over a week ago, a driver in a pickup truck struck a group of bicyclists who were on a casual ride on a Tuesday evening in Cooper Township north of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
