A family was spared injury when a drunk driver drove his pickup truck through several obstacles before ramming one of the family's vehicles into their home early on Christmas morning, as reported by The Times-Picayune, and the driver has been charged with DWI-second arrest and reckless operations of a vehicle.
Due to an earlier mishap, the room that C.A. crashed into was not inhabited, as it still required repair. If the homes occupant R.F., 66, had been sleeping there, according to her daughter, M.F., 43, "We'd be planning a funeral."
R.F.'s three grandchildren, also spending Christmas Eve in the home, were tucked away in other areas of the house.
Of the other obstacles that C.A. struck during his alcohol-infused accident, he totaled four – three of which were owned by the F. family.
According to the police report, at approximately 4 a.m. C.A. drove his Ford Mustang northbound on Terry Parkway and then decided to make a U-turn maneuver to drive south. During the turn C.A. allegedly lost control of his vehicle and smashed a Ford Taurus that belonged to a neighbor of R.F.
Then he crashed into a Dodge Ram tuck owned by the F. family that had been in their driveway. The impact sent the truck into another family vehicle, a Chrysler Town and Country minivan – and the minivan was propelled into the bedroom wall of the home.
C.A., turning his vehicle in the driveway, crashed into the forth and final vehicle. He continued to drive his car into a gas meter and tree on the property.
One of the children commented, "I didn't wake up until I heard everybody screaming. I came outside and I saw the (truck's) hood on the roof."
R.F. claimed that C.A. tried to flee the scene; her son gave chase and was able to return C.A. to the scene. R.F. said that C.A. told her that the incident was the family's fault as, "'Y'all are the ones that messed up my car because y'all got in front of me.'"
Deputies that arrived on scene reported that C.A. smelled of alcohol, couldn't maintain his footing and his speech was slurred. The arrest report showed that his blood alcohol content was 0.206 percent – well above the legal 0.08 percent limit.
R.F.'s sister, L.G., commented, "The only miracle was that no one was injured."
C.A. has since been released from Gretna's Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on a $3,000 bond. His attorney, Michael Ciaccio, who was not available to comment.
C.A. had a previous DWI from December 2010. He was arrested and booked by State Police on the West Bank Expressway. In that case he pleaded guilty and given a year of probation.
In 2008 C.A. pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana. He was given 12 months of inactive probation in the case.
M.F. believes that C.A. lacks the necessary insurance to over the damages he caused to the family's cars and home. M.F. commented, "That man didn't have a scratch on him. That's just it about drinking and driving, they always end up hurting someone else."
If you are facing charges that stem from a DUI, DWI, OUI or OWI contact a DUI attorney to best represent you right away!