High-speed vehicle struck stopped car at red light on East Broussard Road
January 06, 2026 | Lafayette, LA
A devastating high-speed collision amid heavy fog claimed three lives in Lafayette early Tuesday morning, including a local high school student and his mother, as reported by the Lafayette Police Department.
Cherita Washington, 36, and Chase Washington, 17, of Duson, died after their stopped car was rear-ended by a speeding vehicle at East Broussard Road and Johnston Street in Lafayette.
What Happened in the Lafayette Crash?
The incident unfolded around 5:13 a.m. at the busy intersection of East Broussard Road and Johnston Street. Authorities stated that a 21-year-old local man driving westbound at excessive speed rear-ended a vehicle stopped at a red light. The force of the crash propelled the stopped car into a third vehicle that was also stationary, before the speeding driver's car slammed into a utility pole.
- Date and Time: Jan. 6, approximately 5:13 a.m.
- Location: East Broussard Road and Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA
- Vehicles Involved: Three vehicles, including a high-speed sedan striking a stopped family car and another stationary vehicle
- Fatalities: Cherita Washington, 36, and her son Chase Washington, 17, both from Duson, and the 21-year-old driver
- Injuries: The driver of the third vehicle sustained minor to moderate injuries and was hospitalized in stable condition
- Conditions: Heavy fog reduced visibility significantly
Lafayette Police are actively investigating the exact causes, with initial findings pointing to speed as a primary factor.
Why Do Speed-Related Crashes Occur in Low Visibility?
Poor weather like fog, combined with high speeds, dramatically increases crash risks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding contributed to 29% of traffic fatalities in 2023, resulting in 11,775 deaths across the U.S. These incidents often involve reduced reaction times and amplified crash forces.
Factor |
Contribution to Fatalities (2023 NHTSA Data) |
Key Impact |
|---|
Speeding |
29% (11,775 deaths) |
Increases crash severity and reduces control |
Fog/Visibility Issues |
Varies, often exacerbates speeding risks |
Limits reaction time to 1-2 seconds or less |
Rear-End Collisions |
Common in intersections |
Pushes vehicles into hazards like poles |
Data sourced from NHTSA Speeding Report. For a broader context, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that environmental factors like weather play a role in about 20% of severe accidents.
Legal Insights on High-Speed Collision Cases
In cases such as this involving motor vehicle crashes, thorough investigations are crucial to understanding contributing elements like road conditions, visibility, and driver behavior.
“Road conditions, visibility, and lighting are all possible contributing factors considered and examined,” said Candice Bond, managing partner with Bond Legal. “An accident reconstruction team is sometimes needed to help piece together what happened. All of these resources are necessary for helping clients receive monetary compensation for damages or a loss following a collision.”
- Families may explore wrongful death claims to address losses like companionship and emotional distress.
- Investigations can reveal if negligence, such as speeding in fog, played a role.
- Compensation pursuits often require detailed evidence from official investigations.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal. “We understand just what families must go through, and having their rights protected is vital. A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.”
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If you or a family member has been affected by a similar incident, national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free consultation. Use the contact information provided on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).