3-car accident in New York sends 11 to hospitals

A serious crash in Harlem has sent 11 people to local hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious, according to local reports. New York rescue workers responded to the three-car accident on the night of March 13 in a busy intersection. It is still unclear what precipitated the crash, and currently police have not charged any of the drivers involved with a crime. 

Witnesses say a delivery van struck the back of a passenger car on 125th Avenue. The force of the impact decimated the car’s trunk, and the van ended up flush with the vehicle’s rear window. A third vehicle, a motorcycle, was traveling behind the van and struck it from behind, sending the rider flying. 

A grand total of 11 people were injured in the crash, though it is unclear whether the drivers of the van and the car were among those hurt. Of those involved, seven have injuries described as serious but likely not life threatening, while the other four escaped with relatively minor injuries, according to the emergency personnel who were on the scene. No one was arrested, and it does not appear that officers suspect intoxication as a factor in the crash. 

Generally, drivers who hit other cars from behind in rear-end collisions will be the ones cited, unless one of the drivers involved is found to have been driving while intoxicated. When the injured victims of this car accident receive their copies of the police report, the report should include law enforcement’s view of the cause of the accident and name the driver who they believe was responsible. Once the responsible driver is identified, the victims of the New York accident can determine if they wish to pursue personal injury claims.

Source: CBS New York, “Officials: 11 Injured In Multi-Vehicle Accident In Harlem“, March 13, 2015