Man sentenced in 2022 fatal Gretna drunk driving crash that killed 72-year-old woman
GRETNA, La. (WGNO) — A man has been sentenced after pleading guilty in a fatal drunk driving crash that happened in Gretna in 2022.
The Office of District Attorney Paul Connick Jr. reported that 42-year-old Gerald McKnight was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to vehicular homicide on Monday, Aug. 12.
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Court documents state that McKnight hit the back of a taxicab driving west on the elevated West Bank Expressway near Lafayette Street around 11:45 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2022.
The district attorney’s office reported that 66-year-old Eliot Theophile stopped the taxicab in the right lane while trying to take the Lafayette exit due to traffic congestion.
According to court documents, McKnight was driving an Acura MDX and hit the back of the taxicab, causing it to hit another car “whose driver fled the scene.”
A passenger in the back seat of the taxicab, identified as 72-year-old Tricia Cook, was sent over the front seat and into the driver’s compartment due to the impact of the crash, killing her. According to court documents, Cook was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Theophile was also injured as a result of the crash.
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Court documents state troopers with the Louisiana State Police said McKnight showed signs of intoxication, and a breath test determined that he had a blood-alcohol content of .098%.
On Monday, McKnight pled guilty to vehicular homicide, misdemeanor negligent injury and failing to wear a seatbelt.
According to the district attorney’s office, McKnight was sentenced to five years in prison for the vehicular homicide charge and six months for the vehicular negligent injury charge. He was also fined $50 for failing to wear a seatbelt.
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