Tragic car accident kills 1 in New York

Police are still in the process of determining whether alcohol was involved in a serious car crash that killed a 22-year-old woman. New York police have reported the woman and her friends were on their way home from a birthday party when the car accident occurred. The accident happened in the early morning of Jan. 13. 

Reports have stated that at approximately 3:30 a.m., the unidentified driver of the vehicle appeared to miss an exit on the Nassau Expressway, causing him or her to lose control of the car. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree with enough force to seriously injure everyone in the car. The driver was listed as being in critical condition and the front-seat passenger as being stable when they were rushed to a local hospital by arriving medical personnel. 

The fatal victim, a rear seat passenger, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Police are still investigating the particulars of the crash, most notably to determine whether the driver was speeding and/or intoxicated at the time of the accident. So far, no charges have been filed. 

If New York police do determine the driver was behaving recklessly and/or was intoxicated when the car accident took place, that individual will likely face criminal charges related to the tragic crash. Additionally, the injured passenger and the family of the deceased passenger will be entitled under state law to file personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against both the driver and any ancillary owners of the vehicle involved in the crash. Any evidence brought to light by the police investigation that supports a claim that the driver was culpable may be offered to bolster such a civil suit. 

Source: New York Post, “Woman dies in birthday car crash“, Dana Sauchelli and Jennifer Bain, Jan. 14, 2015