Arrest Made for 3rd-Degree Feticide & Vehicular Negligent Injuring
A Westlake man is charged with 3rd-degree feticide, battery on a police officer, and more following a vehicle crash on Tuesday night in Westlake.
According to a media release from Kayla Vincent, on Tuesday night at about 6:00pm, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the intersection of Goss Road and Miller Avenue in Westlake, in reference to a two vehicle crash. Investigators learned "that the driver of a four door pickup truck, Joshua L. Anderson, 24, 1620 Hilma Street, Westlake, was traveling east in the middle of the roadway on Goss Road when he ran a stop sign. Anderson struck a 4 door pickup truck that was headed south on Miller Avenue, causing both trucks to travel off the roadway, flipping into a ditch. The driver traveling on Miller Avenue and the front seat passenger, who was 21 weeks pregnant, were transported to a local hospital by ambulance. The 2 year old passenger in the truck, who was in a car seat in the backseat, was airlifted to a hospital out of town".
"During the investigation while deputies were speaking with Anderson they observed numerous empty beer bottles inside his truck. They also observed Anderson to show signs of impairment. During further questioning Anderson refused to cooperate and kicked a deputy. Anderson, who refused standard field sobriety and breath intoxilyzer testing, was arrested. Deputies obtained a warrant to have his blood drawn for a toxicology report; he was then transported to a local hospital. After hospital personnel collected the blood sample he was transported back to CPSO and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with DWI 1st; resisting an officer; failure to stop at a stop sign; driving on a roadway laned for traffic; battery on a police officer; vehicular negligent injuring; and 2 counts of 1st degree vehicular negligent injuring", Vincent.
Judge Clayton Davis set Anderson's bond at $4,000, and later set an additional bond for $500,00 for the 3rd-degree feticide charge after it was learned the unborn baby died at the hospital, with the total bond set at $504,000.
The driver was released from the hospital with minor injuries, while the woman remains in the hospital in serious condition. The young child remains in ICU in critical condition.