A multi-vehicle crash in North Bellmore has claimed two lives, according to authorities. New York police have confirmed that a 20-year-old man and an unidentified female pedestrian were both victims of the car accident, which happened during the night of Nov. 4. The driver responsible for the crash was one of the victims, so criminal charges will not be filed.
According to the police report, a 20-year-old man was headed westbound when his vehicle rear-ended another car, causing the second car to spin out of control. The second vehicle left the road and jumped onto the sidewalk, where it collided with the pedestrian. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
The man’s vehicle continued westbound before striking a dumpster. The force of the impact killed the car driver and sent the dumpster careening into yet another vehicle. Thankfully, further injuries were minimal, as the driver of the rear-ended vehicle was treated for injuries not considered life threatening, and no one else was seriously hurt. Police are not sure what caused the initial collision, but considering the force of the impact, they are not ruling out speed or recklessness as potential causes.
Even though criminal charges are not filed posthumously, it is important for a car accident to be fully investigated to determine the cause, particularly in the case of fatal crashes. The family of the deceased woman could choose to file a wrongful death suit against the driver’s estate. This would require a representative to be appointed to answer the claim in a New York civil courtroom.
Source: pix11.com, “2 dead in North Bellmore multi-vehicle crash: police“, Talia Tirella, Nov. 5, 2016