Louisiana drunk driver was three times over legal limit when he struck and killed three siblings

A toxicology report has revealed that a Louisiana driver who was traveling the wrong way when he crashed into a family’s SUV, killing three young siblings, a week before Christmas had a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit for intoxication.

Lindy Simmons, 20, Christopher Simmons, 17, and Kamryn Simmons, 15, of Jeanerette, Louisiana, died in the December 17 crash on Interstate 49 near St. Landry Parish.

The two-vehicle head-on collision, which authorities said was caused by John Lundy, 54, from Georgia, also claimed the life of the drunk driver. 

The Louisiana State Police on Thursday released the results of toxicology tests conducted on blood samples from Lundy, which have been completed by the LSP’s Crime Lab. 

The wrong-way driver who killed Lindy, 20, (right), Christopher, 17, (middle), and Kamryn, 15 (left) Simmons in a car crash near St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, on December 17 had blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit 

The children’s mother, Dawn Simmons, suffered serious injuries. She is pictured with her six surviving children after being released home from the hospital 

‘The results of the tests confirm Lundy’s alcohol level at the time of the crash was nearly three times the legal limit for intoxication,’ a statement from the agency read. 

In Louisiana, drivers are considered legally drunk when their blood-alcohol level is  at. 08 or more.

A statement from a victim’s family said Lundy’s blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was .22.  

The three Simmons children, their mother Dawn, 57, and Christopher’s girlfriend Marissa, 16, were returning from his basketball game at Acadiana Christian School in Monroe at around 9pm on December 17 when they were struck head on by Lundy’s pickup truck. 

State Police said Lundy was driving his 2005 Chevrolet Colorado pickup north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 49. 

Lundy and Lindy Simmons, a Nicholls State University student and school photographer – who was driving the family’s 2017 Cadillac XT5 SUV – were killed on impact. 

Christopher (pictured, left, with his older brother Shea, right) was described as ‘mom’s little angel’ and was planning on taking the ACT until he got a score of 32

Kamryn, who was described as the ‘sweetest person on earth,’ and Christopher – who was described as ‘mom’s angel child’ and planned to keep retaking his ACT until he got a score of 32 – were taken to separate hospitals, where they later succumbed to their injuries and were identified by their older sister, Katie DeRouen.

Her father Ray Simmons, 58, texted DeRouen after the crash, writing: ‘Mom got in a wreck. It’s not looking good, but she’s stable.’ 

Older sister Katie DeRouen (pictured) said she felt like she drove ’97 million hours’ to three hospitals to identify her siblings

Dawn Simmons was brought to a hospital with a bleeding spleen, a punctured lung and two broken ankles. She also has a lacerated carotid artery. 

DeRouen said she had to race to separate hospitals in Opelousas and Bunkie to identify the bodies of Kamryn and Christopher. DeRouen said she was told Lindy died before emergency workers could extract her from the SUV. 

‘Losing one would have been tragic,’ said DeRouen, the second oldest of nine brothers and sisters. ‘There are no words to describe losing all three babies of the family. We all have their gifts wrapped under the tree.’ 

DeRouen wrote in a December 27 update on a GoFundMe page that her mother has since been released from the hospital to continue her recovery at home after undergoing multiple surgeries on her broken ankles.

‘I don’t know how she is still with us,’ the daughter wrote, ‘but thank you God that she is. We are at maximum capacity for grief, and we just couldn’t have lost her too. It will be a long road, but if anyone can do this, my Mom can.’

Dawn Simmons sustained broken ankles that required multiple surgeries 

DeRouen revealed that she and her family opened her siblings’ presents last weekend because they thought it would be ‘too sad to leave them there’ as a reminder of their loss.

DeRouen’s fundraising campaign has drawn more than $764,000 as of Friday.   

The family is scheduled to host a triple funeral for the Simmons siblings on Tuesday. 

‘As we approach this New Year’s Eve and New Year’s celebrations, let us do so remembering those who have died this past year as a result of someone else’s careless decision to get behind the wheel impaired,’ the State Police implored. ‘Let us not lose the lesson of the devastating consequences those poor decisions have had on our communities. Please resolve to have a plan, to never drive impaired by drugs or alcohol, and to always wear your seat belt.’