Louisiana woman in stopped car dies after crash involving deputy responding to call

CNN
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A Louisiana woman sitting in her car stopped on a state highway died Friday after being hit by a Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy responding to a call, according to a Louisiana State Police statement.

An initial investigation revealed that a 2004 Saturn Ion, driven by 33-year-old Christinia Estave, was stopped in the left lane of southbound LA 16 for « reasons unknown », according to police.

« A Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy was driving south in the left lane of LA 16 in a fully marked 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe while responding to a service call and struck the rear of the stopped vehicle, » says the press release.

Estave, who was not restrained, was taken to hospital where she died, police said.

The deputy who was involved in the accident was also not restrained when the crash happened, police said, and suffered minor injuries.

« Although the deputy is not suspected of being intoxicated, a toxicology sample was taken from both drivers and will be submitted for analysis, » police said. « This accident is still under investigation. »

The crash happened east of Baton Rouge.

Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard posted a statement on Facebook regarding the incident, in which he expressed concern that the deputy was not restrained at the time and that he would fix it.

« My thoughts and prayers are with the families of everyone involved, » the post read. « Please know that we are fully cooperating with the Louisiana State Police in their ongoing investigation. As we all await further details, I have been made aware that the deputy was being unrestrained. This is a concern for me. and will be discussed.