Late night home hit-and-run shakes Raceland pair

Dear Editor,

I am writing with deep concern about what laws protect hit-and-run victims. If there are no consequences to hitting a person’s property and running off, what’s to stop someone from causing such havoc?

I also wonder what immoral person would run from the scene of an accident without first finding out if everyone was OK?

That was what horrific event occurred at my residence on Jan. 10.

My mother and I were awakened by a thunderous clash of metal hitting metal colliding into bricks. It was the loudest sound I had ever heard in my life. Someone had plowed their white Neon into our brand new red Toyota Camry, which was parked under the carport. The Neon forced our car into our home.

The sight was heartbreaking, to see the Camry sitting inside the laundry. Luckily, the Neon had lost momentum when it impacted the Camry, otherwise it would have gone through the living room or it would have gone through the laundry and hit the gas hot water heater and caused an explosion.

The crash startled us so bad that we both sprung out of bed to see if the occupants of the Neon were OK. My mother ran to the side door and I immediately called 911. By the time, I got to the front of the house where she was, I nearly dropped my phone. She yelled to the car occupant and asked, “Is every one OK?” There was no response – just the music blasting from the radio of the car, she sprang into action. She has been a licensed nurse for nearly 25 years. Her thought was to help whoever needed assistance. I was on the phone with 911 pleading to send anyone.

You could smell gas throughout our home. Smoke was coming from both cars. No one was responding inside the Neon. Water was pouring out from the pipes in the laundry room. It was a complete mess.

When my mother reached the Neon, she noticed the front door was open. No one was in the vehicle. The air bag had deployed but no one was sitting in the driver’s seat when we got outside.

Our next-door neighbor yelled out, “He ran away down the street.” By that time, the Smith family from Dantin Street was approaching. They asked if everyone was all right. They said that same Neon had sped by their home right before the crash. When they heard the crash, they immediately ran up road to see what happened.

The emergency responders pulled up soon after. All this happened within a matter of five to 15 minutes. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafourche Parish Fire District No. 1 and Acadian Ambulance Service were all on the scene.

It took responders two and half hours to clear our home and deem it safe to return. The Jarrod and Theresa Wrecker service removed both cars. Everyone did a great job responding to the emergency. I would like to give a special thanks to the Smith family, LPSO Deputy Josh Barbera, Lafourche Fire District No. 1 (Ken, Carmen, Gary, Francis, Philip, Brandi, Aaron, Danny, Todd and Bill), Comeaux Plumbing Company of Raceland, and Southeast Gas Company.  They all did an amazing job securing our home and making us feel comfortable. 

For whatever reason, the driver decided to flee and did not check to see if we were OK in our home. Ironically, our immediate concern was for the occupant’s safety. The driver left us to clean up the mess. I’m upset that someone would do something like that. As licensed funeral directors, when there was no response, my mom and I thought the worse. It was a horrible feeling. Material possessions can be replaced. But, a life cannot.

Today, I plead to the driver of the white Neon to please just come forward and accept responsibility for what you did. 

Sophia Ruffin and Edna Frank,

Raceland, La.