5-year-old boy died after his impaired 55-year-old grandmother got behind the wheel and struck him while waiting for the school bus as she backed out of the driveway; grandmother arrested
Louisiana – In a heartbreaking tragedy in Louisiana, a 55-year-old grandmother, identified as K. Anders, has been arrested and charged after she struck and killed her 5-year-old grandson while backing out of the driveway under the influence. Anders now faces a charge of vehicular homicide after authorities say she fatally struck her grandson, who was standing behind her SUV while waiting for the school bus early Tuesday morning.
Police say Anders was impaired by alcohol and central nervous system depressants at the time of the crash, which occurred around 7 a.m. According to their statement, she failed to notice that her grandson was standing near her SUV as she backed out of the driveway to leave for work. The child was struck and killed instantly. Responding officers observed signs of impairment and conducted an investigation at the scene. Anders was immediately taken into custody and charged with vehicular homicide, a felony in Louisiana that can carry severe penalties if convicted.
The details of the morning are devastating in their simplicity and finality. The victim, who had just turned five in June, was waiting to catch his school bus. His grandmother, unaware he had stepped outside, got behind the wheel and backed out without seeing him. In a matter of seconds, the vehicle struck him with fatal force. First responders arrived quickly, but there was nothing they could do to save the child. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police Chief D. Seuzeneau was among the first to arrive. He later issued a deeply emotional public statement, saying, “This is any parent’s worst nightmare… This hits home hard for all of us and all of the first responders who were at that scene.” He said he had spoken with the boy’s mother throughout the day, offering his condolences and reflecting on the unimaginable pain the family must now face. “There isn’t anything I can say to make this situation any better,” Police Chief Seuzeneau said. “All we can do is pray for peace for this family. Go home, hug your kids or grandkids a little tighter tonight. Life is precious, and tragedy can strike any of us without warning.”
Anders was booked into jail. The coroner’s office has scheduled an autopsy for the victim, and the results are expected to confirm the cause of death as blunt force trauma consistent with being struck by a vehicle. As of now, Anders remains in custody, and the case is under active investigation. Authorities have not yet stated whether additional charges may be filed pending toxicology reports or further evidence.
Police have emphasized that this was a preventable tragedy. Anders’ decision to drive while impaired directly led to the death of her grandson — a moment that has left not only one family shattered, but an entire community grieving. The neighborhood is now grappling with the loss of a young child who was simply getting ready to go to school, and a family facing the unthinkable — a life lost at the hands of someone meant to protect it. This case, still unfolding, will eventually make its way through the court system. But for the loved ones of the 5-year-old boy, no sentence will replace the son, grandson, and schoolboy taken far too soon.
