Parents of man who died after car plunged off bridge sue over missing guardrail

GRETNA –The family of a man who drove off a bridge to his death is suing the agency in charge of the bridge as well as its manager.

John and Wilma Sergeant, individually and on behalf of Christopher Sergeant, filed suit against  an unknown insurance company, Carlton Dufrechou and Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission in the 24th Judicial District Court on Jan. 15.

The Sergeants assert their son Christopher was killed while driving southbound on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge on Feb. 3, 2013. The plaintiffs claim their son’s vehicle plunged off the bridge because there was not a proper guardrail in place that would have prevented his car from being launched into the water. The Sergeants allege that Christopher died due to the injuries he received in the accident. They name Dufrechou in the lawsuit because the bridge was under his control as general manager at the time.

The defendant is accused of failing to adequately maintain the roadway, failing to place an adequate guardrail on the southbound portion of the bridge, failing to properly assess the need of a guardrail and failing to keep a guardrail in good operating condition.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for survival action, conscious pain and suffering prior to death and wrongful death.

The plaintiffs are represented by Bobby G. Hawkins of New Orleans-based Irpino Law Firm.

The case has been assigned to Division E Judge John J. Molaison Jr.

Case no. 734-633.