Toddler critically injured in New York car accident

One person is dead and two others, including a toddler, suffered critical injuries after a recent New York motor vehicle accident. The Queens car accident happened around 6 p.m. on the evening of Oct. 6. At this time, no charges have been filed, but both drivers apparently stayed at the scene and cooperated with officers on site. 

The accident report indicates that an SUV driven by a 43-year-old woman was traveling west at the time of the collision. Apparently, that driver disobeyed a stop light and entered an intersection. Another driver, a 23-year-old woman, subsequently struck the SUV in the intersection, causing the SUV to mount the curb. 

Three pedestrians were struck by the SUV, including two women and a 2-year-old girl. A video report accompanying the news article noted that one woman was the child’s mother and the other her aunt. All three individuals were rushed to a local hospital with critical injuries, and the aunt was later pronounced dead. She was credited with pushing the child out of the way in an attempt to save her from a direct impact with the SUV. The little girl is listed in critical but stable condition, and the drivers and the child’s mother were listed as being stable. 

Given this car accident involved an apparent red light being violation, New York police may file charges against the woman who ran it. The video report, however, noted that an issue may exist with respect to the placement of the traffic light, which appears to have been slightly off kilter. Separate from any criminal charges, the family of the deceased woman and of the injured parties will be entitled under state law to file wrongful death and personal injury suits against any party or parties deemed negligent, including the SUV driver. These civil filings will require evidence of negligence that is found to have caused or substantially contributed to the crash and injuries that resulted before financial damages are awarded. 

Source: abc7ny.com, “1 dead, 2 critically injured including toddler in crash on Atlantic Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens“, Josh Einiger, Oct. 6, 2015