Boy, 5, Run Over and Killed While Waiting for School Bus by Alleged Drunk Driver: His Grandmother By Chris Spargo

A Louisiana boy is dead after being run over by a driver who police allege was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

The Slidell Police Department said at a news conference on Tuesday, Nov. 11, that officers had arrested Kristen Anders and charged her with vehicular homicide. Police also said that Anders, 55, is the grandmother of the victim.

On Wednesday, the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office identified the victim as 5-year-old Carson Lawson.

Slidell Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau said on Tuesday that officers were called to the victim’s home at 7 a.m. that morning in response to a young boy who had been hit by a car.

The boy was declared dead at the scene. Officers, after speaking with witnesses, were able to put together the sequence of events leading up to the boy’s death, Seuzeneau alleged.

Carson was waiting in the driveway for the school bus, said Seuzeneau, when his grandmother left the house and got in her car to drive to work.

Anders allegedly got into her vehicle, which police said had been backed into the driveway, and proceeded to drive out of the driveway.

She allegedly wasn’t aware that Carson was outside, and because she was driving a large SUV, she couldn’t see him standing directly in front of the vehicle, Seuzeneau said.

Carson died instantly, according to police.

Investigators at the scene then tested Anders for signs of impairment.

That test was administered by a drug recognition expert, said Seuzeneau, who allegedly determined Anders was impaired and under the influence of alcohol and central nervous system depressants. Police did not state what depressants Anders may have taken.

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Anders was then placed under arrest and booked into jail on a charge of vehicular homicide.

Seuzeneau spoke about the impact the tragedy has had on law enforcement.

“This is any parent’s worst nightmare,” he said. “I was at the scene this morning, as well as several of our officers. This affects everyone. This hits home hard for all of us and all of the first responders who were at that scene.”

Seuzeneau also told reporters that he had spoken to Carson’s mother several times on Tuesday.

“There isn’t anything that I can say that can make her feel better or make this situation better,” the police chief said.

Anders was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail on Wednesday. Her bail is set at $50,000.