Bicyclist Killed by Drunk Driver

State Police say a drunk driver struck and killed a 28-year-old bicyclist in Breaux Bridge on Friday night.

Tyrone Celestine, of Breaux Bridge, was riding his bike on West Mills Avenue near Rees Street in Breaux Bridge about 11:30 p.m. when Lawrence Sam, 52, also of Breaux Bridge, ran into him in a Dodge truck, Master Trooper Brooks David said.

Celestine, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, was ejected from the bicycle and was seriously injured, David said. He died at a local hospital.

Sam failed a breath test at the scene and was booked into St. Martin Parish Jail on counts of careless operation, open alcoholic container and vehicular homicide, David said.

This tragedy illustrates two points that the proven trial attorneys at Fisher Injury Lawyers have addressed in many bicyclist cases over the years. First, every bicyclist has the absolute right to ride the roads of our state.  True the bicyclist must obey the rules of the road and exercise due caution, but the roads are there for the use of bicyclists as well.   In fact, Louisiana like several other states, affords bicyclists the extra protection of a 3 foot buffer meaning every vehicle must stay at least 3 feet from the bicyclist at all times.  If the buffer zone is obeyed, we would never have another bicyclist killed by a motor vehicle.

The second point is that wearing a helmet is a must for every bicyclist and motorcyclist.  There is no question that helmets generally save lives and reduce injury.  However, that does not mean that a helmet would have saved this cyclist.  Many times, the impact is so great and the injuries to a bicyclists body are so great that a helmet would not prevent the injury or death.   It is the job of an experienced injury lawyer to collect evidence and use appropriate experts to determine the cause of the victims death and whether or not the absence of a helmet was on any consequence to the tragedy.

The proven trial attorneys at Fisher Injury Lawyers have successfully handled many bicyclists cases. Our lead trial lawyer, Bryan Fisher, has pursued and won bicyclists cases as far away as Ontario Canada.  He has effectively lobbied state legislatures for bicycle buffer zones and is considered by many to be the leading bicyclist injury attorney in the country.  Our team has the knowledge, skill, experience and resources to win the most challenging cases and we always maximize our clients recovery.  In over 20 years of practice we have recovered over $50,000,000.00 for our clients and that number grows each day.  Our attorneys or licensed in Louisiana and Texas and we handle cases throughout the United States.  Our offices are locates in Baton Rouge Louisiana and Arlington Texas (Dallas/Ft. Worth).  Call us anytime.  We are always here for you.

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