The devastated family of a student injured in a crash that killed his girlfriend and friend in Louisiana say he remains in intensive care and is in need of blood.
Liam Dunn, 20, a freshman at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, remains in critical condition after Addis police officer David Cauthron, 42, ran a red light and plowed into the car the student was there on New Year’s Eve.
“Liam is still in the hospital, so the big thing they are promoting is that he needs blood. So, they are promoting the blood through Our Lady of the Lake because that is the hospital there,” said the Principal of Brusly High School Walt Lemoine, WAFB reported.
“There’s a lot of support out there that people really care about other people, and it’s a shame that it takes an accident to show that,” he added.
Liam, a 2020 graduate of Brusly High, reportedly lost a lot of blood in the tragic accident.
Cauthron has been charged with two counts of negligent homicide in the fatal crash, which killed Dunn’s sister Maggie, 17, and Caroline Gill, 16.
Dunn’s father, Kenny Wayne, posted updates on his son’s condition on Facebook.
“Thank you very much for the love and condolences for our family. Your thoughts and prayers keep us going right now. Our family is very grateful to you,” he wrote, urging people to donate blood.
“As his situation changes we’ll update as honestly as we can. He’s in a fight right now. … He’s going to need surgeries. Fractured femur, tibia, wrist left, skull fracture, and a few other issues. We ask for prayers,” Wayne wrote.
“We don’t know why God took our daughter, but I believe she was running around the store,” he added.
Eighteenth District Attorney Tony Clayton attacked Cauthron, who had been on the police force for less than a year after previously working for a state police agency.
“That officer has a lot of questions to answer about his speed and recklessness,” Clayton said Sunday, according to WBRZ. “The public can be sure, we will follow the facts.”
Sources told the news outlet that the officer was driving approximately 86 mph during the pursuit of suspect Tyquel Zanders, who is accused of stealing a family car.
Sources also told WBRZ that Cauthron did not apply the brakes before hitting the car the girls and Liam were in.
