A disturbing video circulating on social media is drawing attention across Lafayette after showing a driver appearing to be impaired behind the wheel.

In the footage, witnesses can be heard pleading with the man to stop driving as he continued putting himself and others at risk. According to those on scene, the situation escalated quickly from concerning behavior to a dangerous series of events.

What Witnesses Say Happened

One eyewitness described a timeline that began around 10 p.m. near Dewey’s, where a red Lexus reportedly sped into a parking lot before the driver exited the vehicle and behaved erratically.

Concerned bystanders attempted to check on the man, but he allegedly locked himself inside the vehicle and drove off shortly after.

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From there, witnesses say the driver began a pattern of reckless driving that included cutting off other vehicles, sideswiping a truck near Milton Avenue and Chemin Metairie, and swerving into oncoming traffic along Verot School Road.

At one point, a witness even followed the vehicle in an effort to gather identifying information and urged the driver to pull over before someone was seriously hurt.

Crash At Verot School Road And Digby

The situation came to a violent end at the intersection of Verot School Road and Digby Road.

According to Lafayette Police, the driver made a U-turn at a red light and crashed into a Ford F-150, causing it to spin out and collide with a nearby pole.

Officers responded to the scene around 10:21 p.m.

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Police Identify Suspect And File Charges

Authorities identified the driver as Lawrence Christy II of Lafayette.

Police say Christy appeared to be under the influence of an unknown intoxicant and was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. A Standardized Field Sobriety Test was later conducted.

After being cleared from the hospital, Christy was arrested and booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on the following charges:

  • Careless Operation
  • OWI, Second Offense

Witnesses Tried To Prevent A Worse Outcome

While questions may arise about how the situation unfolded, eyewitnesses say they made repeated efforts to intervene and alert authorities before the crash occurred.

Those who witnessed the incident firsthand expressed concern not only for the driver’s condition but for the safety of everyone on the road.

In this case, their attempts to intervene may have helped prevent an even more serious outcome.

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Gallery Credit: Katelyn Leboff

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