Lafayette Woman Left Paralyzed After Being Hit By Drunk Driver on Pinhook
LAFAYETTE, La (KMDL-FM) - A devastating crash in Lafayette has left a local woman permanently paralyzed, and now her mother is speaking out about the life-altering impact the incident has had on their family.
Lafayette Scooter Crash Leaves Woman Paralyzed
24-year-old Julie Steed of Lafayette was struck just before midnight on Wednesday, March 4 while riding her scooter along Pinhook Road traveling home from work.
According to reports, the crash occurred on West Pinhook Road in Lafayette, where the victim was traveling on an electric scooter when she was struck by a southbound vehicle.
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Lafayette Police say say the initial impact knocked Steed into the roadway, where she was hit again by other vehicles before emergency crews arrived.
Julie's mother, Jamie Steed tells KADN.com -
I knew that Julie was working that night, so I checked my Life 360 and I saw that she had gotten off work early and her phone was stationary one mile from her job. didn't know what to do, and then the next thing you know, my phone rings and it was Jeremy Hicks, of the police department, and he told me what happened.
Steed was transported to Ochsner Lafayette General with critical injuries and has since been left permanently paralyzed as a result of the crash.
Dakota Wagoner of Lafayette is the driver believed to have caused the initial collision. Wagoner was arrested and accused of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Authorities reported that Wagoner's blood alcohol well above the legal limit at the time of the incident.
The victims mother tells KADN she's angry -
I'm angry. I'm angry that there was a drunk driver and. I mean, there was no suspected because the news kept saying suspected drunk driver, alleged. He was arrested. He was three times over the legal limit.
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A GoFundMe has been set up to help Julie Steed and her family with recovery and medical bills. You can donate to the Steed family over at GoFundMe.
Read more at KADN.com.
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Gallery Credit: Jude Walker