Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by Detective Sergeant S.V. Ward with the Orange Police Department
On 11/02/2015, at approximately 8:03 PM, Officers with the City of Orange Police Department were dispatched to the 2200 block of MacArthur Drive in reference to an auto pedestrian accident.
During the investigation of the accident, it was determined that a 25 year old black female and a 6 year old black female were crossing the street in the 2200 block of MacArthur. As the two females were attempting to cross the roadway heading south, they were struck by a small car. According to the witnesses, the vehicle was described as a small white car. After the accident occurred, the witnesses reported that the vehicle continued traveling west on MacArthur Drive, failing to stop.
The two pedestrian victims were later pronounced deceased by JP #2, Judge Dunn.
The Orange Police Department Detective Division received information from a caller stating a relative possibly had knowledge of the incident. The Detective Division made contact with this relative who advised that the suspect would later “turn himself in” at the Orange Police Department.
On 11/03/2015, at approximately 9:45 PM, the suspect, Carl Broussard, arrived at the Orange Police Department.
An interview was conducted with Broussard.
During the interview, Broussard admitted to being involved in the accident in the 2200 block of MacArthur that occurred on 11/02/2015. Broussard advised that he was traveling west in the 2200 block of Macarthur in a 1993 Geo Prism. Broussard entered the turning lane in order to turn south on Donnell Street. At this time, Broussard reported that he heard a “thud” which caused damage to his front windshield. Broussard stated the he turned south on Donnell Street and immediately turned left into a private parking lot. Broussard said that he stayed in the parking lot for approximately 5 to 10 seconds before leaving the parking lot without checking to see what he had struck. He then traveled to his girlfriends residence and showed her the damage to the vehicle. Broussard’s girlfriend went back to the scene and discovered that two people had be struck in the traffic accident. Broussard’s girlfriend contacted him by telephone from the scene and gave him that information. Broussard neglected to contact law enforcement and with this information put his Geo Prism in the garage at his girlfriends residence in order to conceal it.
Broussard was placed into custody for two counts of Accident Involving Death (TTC 550.021-F2). Brossard was transported to the Orange County Jail where he was released to the jail staff.
The man charged with leaving the scene of a collision that killed a mother and daughter who were walking across MacArthur Drive will face the same punishment as an intoxication manslaughter charge.
The Texas Legislature in 2013 approved changing the state law to make failure to stop and render aid in a fatality a second degree felony. The law started on September 1, 2013. The punishment is two to 20 years in prison with a maximum fine of $10,000. Intoxication manslaughter is also a second degree felony with the same punishment.
Before the law, failure to stop and render aid had a lesser punishment. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) lobbied for the change to the law. The group argued at the time that someone who was intoxicated and killed someone would face a charge of intoxication manslaughter. If they left the scene and became sober before surrendering to police, they would have a lesser punishment. That meant someone who was intoxicated had an incentive to leave the scene without helping.
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