100-mph Metairie crash claims life of New Orleans woman, driver booked, vehicular homicide

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A St. Tammany Parish man had narcotics in his system and was driving more than 100 mph when he barreled through an intersection on Causeway Boulevard in Metairie, causing a four-car crash that ultimately claimed the life of a 75-year-old New Orleans woman, authorities said.

Sean Bennett, 26, of Sun, was booked June 30 with vehicular homicide, two counts of vehicular negligent injuring, reckless operation of a vehicle and driving on a suspended license, said Capt. Jason Rivarde, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson.

Lyn Peychaud Garnett, a former religion teacher in New Orleans Catholic schools, died June 7, after spending seven weeks in the hospital following the April 16 crash.

"She survived 11 surgeries. She fought," Garnett's daughter, Bre'anne Garnett, 40, said. "Our faith is so strong. We just knew she was going to make it. She's such a good person, but that's God's call. It's just so disappointing for us."

The crash

The crash occurred just after 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of Causeway Boulevard and West Esplanade Avenue in Metairie (map). Bennett was driving north on Causeway in a 2016 Nissan Altima when he blew through a red light at the intersection, Rivarde said.

Bennett's car hit a vehicle headed eastbound on West Esplanade before continuing to skid north on Causeway through the intersection. Bennett then crashed into Garnett's vehicle, which was being driven west on West Esplanade by her 73-year-old husband, John Garnett, authorities said

The force of the impact sent the Garnett's vehicle hurtling into a pole. Lyn Garnett suffered severe internal injuries. Both she and her husband were transported to the hospital. But while he was treated and released, she remained in the intensive care unit and underwent several surgeries, authorities said.

Bennett, who had to be extricated from his vehicle, was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries, authorities said. Bennett, who had been diagnosed with mental illness, told Sheriff's Office investigators that he'd been experiencing hallucinations at the time of the crash, according to an incident report.

After Lyn Garnett's death, Bennett was booked with vehicular homicide because toxicology testing determined he had multiple narcotics in his system at the time of the crash, Rivarde said.

Bennett was being held Wednesday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna on $81,000 bail.

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