Newlywed lawyer and young philanthropist both killed in New Orleans by suspected drunk driver
"Oh my God, they just got married a year ago," Kirschbaum told
The other victim killed was 30-year-old
"She just had a joyful spirit that was both inspiring and infectious," Kopplin said.
Both of the people killed in the wreck appear to have been traveling in the same group of at least five people associated either professionally or through a shared interest in environmental justice causes, according to family members and other sources.
On Sunday, Hynes' mother confirmed that her son knew at least two of the other victims who were injured. She said she didn't want to believe the news, but was forced to confront it when the coroner's office called her.
"I just did not want it to be my sweet child," Kimmel said tearfully. "He was such a sweet, sweet boy."
Kimmel described her son as happy and "so full of life." He and his wife had just moved into a three-bedroom apartment, she said, to make room for their newly adopted dog and, perhaps, a child. She also said he had recently become more cautious than he had been in years prior, and credited the behavior to his wife.
"His life was just starting," she said. "He wasn't reckless anymore, because he was in love with his wife."
Hynes had been working as an associate in the
Before joining
Hynes was originally from
"When he isn't helping clients with their legal needs, he spends time refining his 'foodie' tastes, staying up to date in the
A photograph on Facebook showed Hynes and his wife walking along the
Walls had moved to
She wanted to focus on "improving modern life," she said, so she concentrated on intercultural communication and wrote her thesis on the effectiveness of university diversity initiatives.
She also planned large social events, tutored local elementary students, helped adults apply for jobs and volunteered at homeless shelters and community runs.
As a fellow at the
She also founded Solace, a company that integrates art and design into home and office items.
Kopplin said he and others were particularly inspired by her work with the Emerging Philanthropists of
"Not only did she inspire folks to do great things beyond themselves, but she could gather a crowd to join her in that work," Kopplin said. "She was one of the brightest lights in our city."
Hynes and Walls were among the nine bicyclists hit in a crash that unfolded along five blocks of
The driver, Tashonty Toney, 32, faces two counts of vehicular homicide, seven counts of vehicular negligent injuring, hit-and-run and reckless operation,
Toney didn't appear to have any prior criminal record, a records search shows.
+2
After hitting 9 in
After hitting 9 in
Witnesses said Tashonty Toney, the man accused of plowing his Camaro into nine bicyclists on
Witnesses reported that Toney was so inebriated after the crash that he had to be revived.
Those injured included a 28-year-old woman who suffered a ruptured lung and was in critical condition; another 28-year-old woman who may have suffered a neck injury but was in stable condition; a 56-year-old woman with neck injuries, also in stable condition; a 31-year-old man with bruises and other minor injuries; a 62-year-old man with a back injury; a 56-year-old woman with an unspecified injury; and a 27-year-old woman who complained of head pain.
Multiple witnesses said Toney was headed riverbound on Esplanade in a Camaro when he tried to pass another vehicle on the right. The sports car drifted into the cyclists' lane and accelerated, reaching a speed one witness estimated at 80 mph.
After plowing into several people, the car struck Esplanade's neutral ground, spun dramatically and came to a stop facing in the lakebound -- or opposite -- direction.
+2
Surveillance: Car speeds down Esplanade in
Surveillance: Car speeds down Esplanade in
Surveillance video captured the moment when a suspected intoxicated driver in a sports car crashed into bicyclists in the
A witness -- cyclist
He said he and two others managed to rouse the driver back to consciousness, at which point he remarked: "Call my daddy -- call my daddy. He's NOPD."
NOPD spokesman
-Staff writer
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