Man charged in New York car accident found guilty

A man who pleaded guilty to criminal negligent homicide for driving under the influence will spend the next five years on probation, according to state officials. New York authorities have just completed the trial of the 35-year-old Brooklyn man who stood accused of being responsible for the death of a 32-year-old woman back in 2014. The other driver involved in the car accident has also pleaded guilty to DUI and manslaughter, though he will not be sentenced until next year. 

The accident report from the night in question says the woman was lying down in the back of the 35-year-old man’s vehicle when another car, also driven by a 35-year-old man, smashed into their vehicle. Police believe he was traveling at nearly 100 mph. The resulting crash devastated the car and killed the woman in the back seat.

The man driving the struck vehicle pleaded guilty and, in addition to probation, had his license suspended and incurred a fine of $500. He will also spend time in community service. It is unclear whether either of the two drivers involved were injured in the crash. 

In the case of a fatal car accident caused by drunk driving, families are often invested in justice for the deceased. Given both men pleaded guilty, the family of the deceased woman are in a good position to succeed in any wrongful death lawsuit against either man in a New York civil court. These types of personal injury claims typically make use of police evidence and any convictions secured in criminal court in order to argue for damages to be awarded in civil court. 

Source: New York Daily News, “Brooklyn man gets five years probation for deadly 2014 car crash“, Christina Carrega, Nov. 29, 2016