Woman grabs wheel from alleged drunk driver, is killed when car hits tree

 A passenger who grabbed the steering wheel from an unlicensed and alleged drunk driver to avoid a head-on collision with an 18-wheeler was killed when the car left the road and hit a tree.

According to State Police, a car driven by Jimmy Vizinat, 36, of Larose was south-bound on La. 24 Saturday afternoon when it crossed into the big rig’s path.

Right-fronT passenger Patricia Vega, 42, of Houma jerked the wheel to avoid a crash and the car left the roadway, striking a truck and killed her and a rear-seat passenger whose identity has not been released.

Vizinat was not injured; three other passengers had minor injuries.

Vizinat was measured at over the legal alcohol limit and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, three counts of vehicular negligent injury, driving left of center and having no driver’s license.