(WESTWEGO) — Wade Gobert's gut reaction was spot on. The aftermath of last week’s high-speed police chase and hit-and-run in the 7300 block of 4th Street in Westwego is proof.
“When I saw guns, I knew this was more than a regular accident. I don't what was going on,” Gobert said.
Last Friday (Dec. 14), Gobert was leaving work in Westwego, driving in his Chevy Silverado heading home to Luling when he saw sirens. A moments later, he saw a car in his rearview blazing toward him.
“He wasn't stopping. Something was going to have to stop him he was not going to stop on his own,” Gobert said.
All he could do is react. He hit the brakes and started to swerve.
“Apparently he was trying to pass up that vehicle and get back onto 4th Street and continue going,” Gobert said. “Well, it didn't work out for him because he got out on the grass and back onto the pavement.”
“He was totally out of control. He came straight across and that's when he hit me,” Gobert said.
The car smashed into Gobert’s truck, and that’s when Jefferson Parish deputies rushed in.
17-year-old Zyonne Willis, a passenger in the stolen Toyota Prius, died. Deputies eventually arrested the 16 year-old-driver of that stolen car.
A man living on 4th Street who had his car damaged saw it all unfold.
"It's crazy, I'm 22, to see young people doing what they're doing and see their life going away like that, it's mind blowing," the man said.
What's mind blowing to Gobert was the sheer force of the crash.
“When that car hit me, he pulled my vehicle into a 90 degree turn. That's how fast he was going for a little-bitty car like that to move a truck that far over. He was flying, there's no doubt about it,” Gobert said.
There is doubt in Gobert's mind about the authorities' decision to pursue the suspects, especially in a residential area.
“Who's to say those two guys wouldn't have abandoned that vehicle, because they were scared? They've been driving it for two days stolen, they could've abandoned it, they could've caught the perpetrators,” Gobert said. “She would've gotten her car back, I'd still have my truck, I wouldn't have a broken wrist and the young man may still have his life,” he said.