Speeding may be a factor in New York car accident

An investigation into a fatal crash that killed a former political aide and members of his family is still underway in Manhattan. New York police are investigating a car accident on the Long Island Expressway that claimed several lives, including a 10-year-old child. Charges are not pending as the driver believed to be responsible for the accident also perished in the tragic crash. 

The police report states the vehicle driven by a 26-year-old man may have been traveling at an unsafe speed eastbound on the LIE when the accident happened. It appears the driver lost control of the vehicle, possibly due to a change in road surface due to construction. The vehicle went airborne into the westbound lanes, crashing into two other vehicles before coming to rest. 

The driver and his sister were both killed. The driver’s 10-year-old son was rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. Two other people in his vehicle were injured. The four other individuals in the other two vehicles, a driver and passenger in each car, were all killed as well. Police are still investigating at this time. 

The magnitude of this car accident is enough by itself to ensure New York police continue to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. While no charges will be filed even if it is discovered that the eastbound driver was speeding, it may be possible for the families of the other deceased individuals to seek justice outside criminal court. State law allows those families to sue the man’s estate for wrongful death, using police evidence to bolster their claims in civil court. 

Source: CBS New York, “Sources: Scene Of Deadly LIE Crash Suggests Driver Was Going 100 MPH“, Aug. 22, 2016