Drunk, Speeding Driver Kills Teen Passenger
Holiday celebration turned to mourning for a Brooklyn mother last week when her eldest son was killed in a car crash. The seventeen-year-old was a passenger in a car that ended up a mangled wreck near the approach to the Manhattan Bridge in Chinatown in the early hours of December 26.
According to accounts, the driver of the car was speeding and intoxicated when he lost control near the intersection of Bowery and Canal Streets. The car struck a curb and a light pole, then crashed into a fire hydrant with enough force to tear it loose.
That impact also caused the car to flip over. It landed on its roof and on fire. The driver and passenger were both stuck in the vehicle for nearly twenty minutes until firefighters were able to free them. Police did not completely clear the scene and remove the vehicle for about twelve hours.
Driver Charged
The twenty-two-year-old driver of the vehicle was charged with driving under the influence, and it’s possible that more charges will be added. The most serious offense that might apply in this case appears to be aggravated vehicular manslaughter, which if proven could lead to up to $5,000 in fines and a prison sentence up to twenty-five years.
There hasn’t been any comment from authorities on whether this is an appropriate charge for the auto wreck. It’s been reported that the driver had been arrested at least six times in the past for other offenses, but it was not specified if any of them were driving-related.
The driver may have tried to distract or delay investigators at the scene by claiming injuries he didn’t have. The last report on his condition said that he had been hospitalized but was in stable condition.
Drunk Driving Still a Killer
Despite great progress in recent decades, too many New Yorkers are killed every year by drunk drivers. State data from 2016 estimate that alcohol was a factor in 26 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities in New York, accounting for 272 of the year’s 1,029 roadway deaths.
The twenty-two-year-old driver in this crash falls squarely in the group most likely to be responsible: twenty-one- to twenty-nine-year-olds were behind about 35 percent of those crashes, while about 77 percent of DUI drivers were men.
New York City Car Accident Lawyer
When you or a loved one has been the victim of a car accident that causes injury or death, it’s important to turn to an experienced and knowledgeable firm that treats all its clients and their cases with the care and compassion they deserve. Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP has helped hundreds of clients with DWI accident cases, and we’re ready to help you.
Whether the crash was the result of a drunk or drugged driver, a distracted driver, a reckless driver, or any other cause, call us at 1-800-VICTIM2 (842-8462) or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can help.
