A New Jersey man is facing charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless driving after a car crash in Queens. Pending the results of blood work, he may also be charged with driving under the influence. The devastating car accident led to two deaths and injuries to seven people.
According to reports, the 33-year-old driver was driving with five passengers in his BMW to Brooklyn from a wedding. Sometime after 6 a.m., he tried to pass a white Nissan in the right lane of the highway. He then allegedly sideswiped the Nissan and lost control of his BMW. As he sped out of control, he slammed into a Nissan Rogue, pushing it through a guardrail and into the eastbound lanes. Both vehicles rolled over into oncoming traffic. A Mercedes Benz SUV traveling eastbound attempted to dodge the two rolling vehicles, but ended up rolling over as well.
The driver that caused the crash was estimated to have been going 76 mph in a 50-mph zone.
The first victim to be discovered was a teenager, found lying in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim was extracted from the crashed BMW and taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Both were passengers in the at-fault driver’s car. Another passenger was taken to the hospital with a fracture pelvis and arm.
The man driving the Rogue suffered multiple leg fractures and was hospitalized. His passenger fractured a rib and suffered injuries to his neck and back.
Hit by a Reckless Driver? Here’s What to Do
According to the Insurance Information Institute, speeding is a leading driving behavior associated with fatal crashes. If you are injured in a speeding-related accident:
- Seek medical attention, even if you do not believe your injuries are serious. Some injuries, like traumatic brain injury, are not immediately apparent and it is better to catch them early to begin treatment
- Document the scene, or have someone nearby do so if you cannot. Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries and identifying information on the other driver
- Give your statement to police and collect witness contact information
- Discuss your case with a personal injury attorney