Juvenile driver faces negligent homicide charge after teen passenger dies in crash

LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- A juvenile driver has been charged with negligent homicide after a 17-year-old passenger was killed in a crash, according to the Lafayette Police Department.

Lafayette police said the single-vehicle crash, which occurred around 3:40 a.m. Monday in the 800 block of Walker Raod, claimed the life of Lafayette resident Terry Mitchell.

The juvenile driver, whose name was not released, is facing charges of negligent homicide, reckless operation, unauthorized use of an automobile and mandatory licensure.

Police said the vehicle was traveling east in the 300 block of Walker Road when it left the roadway near the intersection of Tournoir Street. There, the vehicle then hit a privacy fence, flipped and struck a tree in a yard on Walker Road.

Lafayette police said seven occupants were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash. When officers responded to the scene, some of the occupants fled the area, police said, but the driver was found nearby.

Mitchell was a rear-seat passenger of the vehicle. She was taken to an area hospital but later died from her injuries, police said. Two other passengers were taken to a hospital for treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said the juvenile driver was taken to the Lafayette Police Department and later booked into the Lafayette Juvenile Detention Center on the charges mentioned earlier.

A resident of the area, who requested to stay anonymous, told KLFY News 10 that they heard the crash occur.

"Whenever we looked out the window, we saw the car and all of them, the passengers, just trying to get out," the resident said.

"It's sad. They didn't look like they were very old. So that's what's so tragic," the resident continued.

This crash remains under investigation.

This report will be updated as information becomes available.

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