WESTLAKE, La. - A 24-year-old Westlake man accused of running a stop sign and crashing into a vehicle is accused of multiple charges including feticide.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office responded to a call Tuesday at 6:00 pm at the intersection of Goss Road and Miller Avenue in Westlake in reference to a two-vehicle crash, according to Kayla Vincent, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office.
The initial investigation revealed that the driver of a four-door pickup truck, Joshua L. Anderson was traveling east in the middle of the roadway on Goss Road when he allegedly ran a stop sign.
Investigators say Anderson struck a four-door pickup truck that was headed south on Miller Avenue, causing both trucks to travel off the roadway, flipping into a ditch. The driver traveling on Miller Avenue and the front seat passenger, who was 21 weeks pregnant, were transported to a local hospital by ambulance. The two-year-old passenger in the truck, who was in a car seat in the backseat, was air-lifted to a hospital out of town, stated Vincent.
During the investigation while deputies were speaking with Anderson they observed numerous empty beer bottles inside his truck. They also observed Anderson to show signs of impairment. Anderson refused to cooperate and kicked a deputy, added the spokesperson.
Anderson, who refused standard field sobriety and breath intoxilyzer testing, was arrested. Deputies obtained a warrant to have his blood drawn for a toxicology report; he was then transported to a local hospital. After hospital personnel collected the blood sample he was transported back to CPSO and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Jail and charged with DWI (first offense); resisting an officer; failure to stop at a stop sign; driving on a roadway laned for traffic; battery on a police officer; vehicular negligent injuring; and two counts of first-degree vehicular negligent injuring.
Judge Clayton Davis set his bond at $4,000.
It was later learned the unborn baby died at the hospital, according to Vincent, Anderson will be additionally charged with third-degree feticide. Bond for his additional charge is $500,000.
The driver was later released from the hospital with minor injuries. The woman remains in the hospital in serious condition and the young child remains in ICU in critical condition.
The crash is still under investigation.
