AMITE, La. -- A trial date has been set for a pickup driver accused of killing three Southeastern Louisiana University students in March 2009.
According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, District Attorney Scott Perrilloux said Friday that Derek L. Quebedeaux, 22, of Hammond, is scheduled to go to trial on Aug. 9 in 21st Judicial District Court at Amite.
In May 2009, a Tangipahoa Parish grand jury indicted Quebedeaux on three counts of vehicular homicide, two counts of first-degree vehicular negligent injuring and five counts of felony hit-and-run in connection with the crash.
Police have said Quebedeaux was the driver of a Dodge Dakota pickup that plowed into a group of current and former Southeastern Louisiana University students walking along a street in Hammond around 2 a.m. March 6, 2009.
Thurman "Rion" Lowe III, of Kenner; Beth Boudreaux, 19, of Husser; and Maxime Profit, 23, of Vaires Sur Marne, France, were killed in the crash. Two others were injured.
Quebedeaux pleaded innocent to the charges on May 21.
His attorney, Michael Thiel, said he has filed writs in the state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge seeking a review of recent decisions by state District Judge Doug Hughes, who is presiding over the case.
Thiel said he had sought to suppress statements Quebedeaux allegedly made to Hammond Police Department officers and results of blood-alcohol tests given to the defendant.
The outcome of those writs could delay the start of the trial, Thiel said.
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Information from: The Advocate, http://www.2theadvocate.com
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