Suit blames unlighted DOTD barrier for wreck

An accident involving an unlighted highway barricade on U.S. 90 during a January freezing rain event injured a St. Mary Parish man who is suing the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, according to a lawsuit filed in 16th District Court.
Hiram Variet suffered “serious and debilitating injuries for which he sought medical attention and treatment and has incurred substantial medical expenses,” according to the petition for damages filed with the suit on July 1.
Variet was a passenger in a 1989 Lincoln Town Car driven by Quinten Bradford of Garland, Texas, when the car struck a barricade in the westbound lane of U.S. 90 that was detouring traffic onto La. 182, the suit states.
“These barricades were unlit and unmarked in the middle of the night and there was no one directing traffic away from the barricades,” which Bradford attempted to avoid “by quickly steering onto La. 182 causing his vehicle to spin out of control and strike a utility pole, the suit states.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff spokeswoman Traci Landry said the investigation of the accident was turned over to Louisiana State Police Troop I. Information from the state police on the crash was not available.
The suit states that Bradford was ticketed for careless operation of a motor vehicle. Bradford also is listed as a defendant in the suit, along with his insurance company.
The suit does not provide the age and address of Variet or Bradford. A request to Variet’s attorney for that information was not returned.
The accident occurred on the night of Jan. 25, according to the suit. Ice and snow fell through much of the state during the last week of January. On Jan 24, St. Mary Parish roads were not closed, but ice was reported on most overpasses throughout the parish.
At that time, Landry said “the Department of Transportation and Development makes the call to shut down any roadways. Now, many of the roadways are considered hazardous because of ice.” People were encouraged to stay off the roads as multiple crashes were reported by Friday morning.
Landry said the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to 22 weather-related crashes Jan. 24 through the morning of Jan. 25.
State Police Troop I Spokesman Stephen Hammons said in an email that Troop I responded to more than 300 calls for service from 2 a.m. Jan. 24 through 2 p.m. Jan. 25, which included crashes, motorist assistance calls and other requests for assistance.
Highway department spokeswoman Deidra Druilhet was asked when barricades were placed out by the highway department. She said because of the pending lawsuit she would have to determine if she could provide that information without an official public records request. She did not respond further before publication deadline.