Tragic Accident in Slidell

A grandmother in Louisiana was taken into custody on Wednesday after allegedly hitting and killing her 5-year-old grandson while driving under the influence.

Kristen Anders, 55, from Slidell, now faces charges of vehicular homicide, according to local police. She has been placed under a $50,000 cash bond.

Authorities were called to the scene around 7 a.m. on Spartan Loop after a vehicle struck a child in a driveway. Investigating officers discovered that Carson Lawson, the 5-year-old, had been waiting for his school bus when he was possibly hit by his grandmother’s 2016 GMC Yukon, which was parked in the driveway.

At a news conference, Slidell Police Chief Daniel Suznow mentioned that Anders was reportedly unaware of Lawson being outside and stopped as soon as she realized something had happened. However, it remains uncertain whether the boy was standing or sitting in front of the car at the time.

Suznow also noted that Lawson had two brothers attending the same school, and they were particularly close during this unfortunate event.

Police indicated that Anders displayed signs of impairment right after the incident, confirming that she was under the influence of alcohol and central nervous system depressants.

“I’ve spoken to the victim’s mother multiple times today, and honestly, there’s nothing I can say to ease her pain or improve this situation,” Suznow remarked.

He added, “All that we can do is hope for some peace. It’s crucial to realize how tragic this is for the family. They’ve lost their beloved five-year-old, and now they have to cope with their grandmother’s arrest. It’s a situation where no one comes out ahead.”

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office has yet to comment further on the matter.