DA Warren Montgomery reported that Friday, December 9, 2022, 31 YO Andre J. Damiens of Lacombe was sentenced on charges of vehicular homicide and hit and run driving resulting in death, by District Judge Ellen Creel.
In July of 2021, Louisiana State Police responded to a call that a deceased male was lying on the shoulder at US 190 in Lacombe.
The body was identified and a heavily damaged Huffy bicycle was found.
A witness told police that a vehicle had drifted to the right onto the shoulder and hit the rear tire of a bicycle with its front bumper, causing the victim to become airborne. The body struck the hood, windshield and roof of the vehicle. Investigators determined that the bicycle traveled approximately 149 feet and the victim traveled approximately 250 feet.
Witnesses had taken down the license number of the fleeing vehicle which led officers to the vehicle and the defendant. The vehicle had damage consistent with being involved in the crash. The defendant had just reported the accident to police, telling dispatch that he’d hit a pole. Officers interviewed him and detected an odor of alcohol on his breath; testing confirmed his impairment.
Statements read in the courtroom from the family of the victim said the family had forgiven the defendant. Judge Creel said the family was more lenient that she would have been. She sentenced the defendant to 10 years in prison, seven of which were suspended and three to be served without benefit of probation, parole, and suspension of sentence. She also ordered three additional years of probation, a scram device and attendance of AA meetings until she was satisfied.
