New York car accident kills 1, injures 3

A devastating accident has left one man dead and three other people injured, according to sources on site in the Rockaways. New York emergency workers apparently had to tear both vehicles apart following the car accident in order to extract the occupants. So far, the driver believed to be responsible for the crash has not been charged with a crime, but police are still investigating. 

The accident report indicates the 19-year-old driver of a sports car was heading west on Beach Channel Road when the accident occurred. The driver apparently lost control of his vehicle, sending it into oncoming traffic. The vehicle was struck on the passenger side by an oncoming vehicle. 

The driver and passenger in that car, age 29 and 21 respectively, were both injured and rushed to a local hospital in stable condition. The driver of the sports car was also hurt but considered stable when he was taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, his 19-year-old passenger did not survive the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation continues, and it has been suggested that the younger driver might have been speeding at the time of the accident. 

If this is shown to have been the case, the driver might find himself charged with a crime pertaining to the car accident. New York law will also allow the family of his deceased passenger, as well as the individuals in the other vehicle to file civil lawsuits against him and anyone with an ownership interest in his vehicle. Evidence of negligence deemed to have caused or contributed to the fatal crash will be required before a civil court will adjudicate claims for specific items of financial damages. 

Source: New York Daily News, “Queens firefighters tear cars apart to reach crash survivors“, Ryan Sit, Jan. 15, 2015