1 dead, 2 under arrest following New York car accident

A deadly crash in Brooklyn has led to two people being taken into custody, according to police reports. New York police have confirmed that one person was killed and a second was injured in a car accident that occurred in East New York on the night of June 11. Both the driver and passenger in the offending car are now facing criminal charges. 

The accident report states that an SUV was allegedly speeding on Georgia Avenue around 10 p.m. when the vehicle struck a sedan. The 29-year-old driver of the SUV attempted to flee the scene of the accident, but he was quickly apprehended by police. The passenger in the SUV remained at the site of the accident. 

Both the driver and passenger of the sedan were rushed to a local hospital. The 32-year-old driver is reported as being in stable condition at this time, while the passenger, a 20-year-old man, suffered critical body trauma as a result of the accident. He was pronounced dead a short time later. The driver of the SUV now faces manslaughter charges, and the passenger faces criminal possession of marijuana charges. 

Given speed appears to have been a factor in the car accident, and the fact that the driver attempted to leave the scene, it seems likely he will be prosecuted by New York authorities. In addition, the family of the deceased passenger as well as the injured driver will be entitled under state law to file civil suits in tandem with the criminal charges. Even if the man is found not guilty of the criminal charges, the evidence accrued by police could still be used to sue him for personal injury and/or wrongful death in a civil court. 

Source: pix11.com, “2 arrested after car crash kills passenger in East New York“, Katherine Lam, June 11, 2016