The family of three siblings tragically killed in a Louisiana car crash says they believe the driver had been drinking.
The crash took place on Interstate 49 near St. Landry Parish on Friday, December 17, resulting in the deaths of three siblings — Lindy Simmons, 20, Christopher Simmons, 17, and Kamryn Simmons, 15 — and the driver of a pickup truck, John Lundy, 54.
Writing on a GoFundMe page, their older sister, Katie DeRouen, 31, said she did not know where to even begin.
On a Sunday, the heartbreaking message said that her siblings’ Christmas presents were “still wrapped under the tree” waiting for them.
The family’s lives, she continued, have been shattered.
Lindy Simmons had been driving the family car home from Christopher’s school basketball game, joined by their mother, Dawn, 57, and Christopher’s girlfriend, Marissa, 16.
The crash happened at around 9 pm, and the family believe the other driver, John Lundy, was intoxicated, although police have not confirmed this.
John Lundy and Lindy Simmons were killed instantly, while Christopher and Kamryn Simmons were taken to separate hospitals, where they were later pronounced dead.
Their mother, Dawn, was critically injured with a punctured lung, bleeding spleen, and two broken ankles, while Marissa sustained a broken femur.
Kate DeRouen described the ordeal of trying to track down her siblings who had been taken to different hospitals.
Lindy’s body was still at the scene of the crash as emergency services were unable to remove it from the wreckage.
Kamryn Simmons had been taken to Opelousas General Hospital, and Kate expected to find her sister “bruised but alive.”
When she arrived at the hospital, she was asked to identify the body. Her brother, Christopher, had been taken to another hospital.
In a statement, the Louisiana State Police said: “In one night, the lives of several families have changed forever due to preventable circumstances. Over and over again, troopers see the tragic consequences of preventable motor vehicle crashes. The Louisiana State Police urges motorists to have a plan in place that includes always wearing your seat belt, never driving distracted or tired, and having a designated driver or an alternate ride home when consuming alcohol. Please choose to not drive impaired or ride with an impaired driver.”
Police have not released information on whether either of the drivers was intoxicated.
Within days, the Simmons family GoFundMe page surpassed its original target of $500,000, with many donors leaving messages of condolence.
