Teen Driver, Parents Charged In 14-Year-Old Girl's 100 MPH Crash Death
An unlicensed, 16-year-old Queens driver faces a manslaughter charge in the May death of Fortune Williams, 14, prosecutors said. The unnamed teen, accused of driving and crashing a BMW with Fortune Williams, 14, in the passenger seat, causing her death in May. The boy, now 17, was arraigned on manslaughter and reckless driving charges, along with other counts. He is accused of losing control of the car and crashing into a parked UPS truck, causing severe head trauma. Prosecutors argue that the accident was caused by recklessness and negligence, not only the minor behind the wheel but the adults who put him in the driver's seat. The teen, who was still 16 when the crash occurred, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. His parents, Deo Ramnarine and Sean Smith, face up to a year in prison on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and permitting unlicensed driving.
Published : 5 months ago by Matt Troutman in Auto
The unnamed teen was arraigned Tuesday on manslaughter and reckless driving charges, among other counts, authorities said. He's accused of driving and crashing a BMW with Fortune Williams, 14, in the passenger seat May 17, prosecutors said.
“We will argue that the horrific car crash that took Fortune Williams' young life was the result of recklessness and negligence, not only on the part of the minor behind the wheel, but the adults who put him in the driver’s seat," said Melinda Katz, district attorney for Queens, in a statement. The teen had received a BMW as a gift from his father when he was 16 and couldn't legally drive without a licensed driver, prosecutors said.
But, despite that restriction, witnesses for months teen regularly drive to and from school without an adult, authorities said. The boy was still 16 when the crash unfolded in May, officials said.
Investigators believe he lost control of his car while he drove 101 mph in a 30-mph zone along North Conduit Avenue near 160th Street in Jamaica and crashed into the back of a parked UPS truck, prosecutors said. Williams was flung from the BMW into the truck, where he suffered severe head trauma, authorities said. Medics pronounced her dead at the scene, prosecutors said.
A UPS worker also suffered injuries in the crash that have kept him from returning to work and will require surgery, officials said. The teen, who is now 17, faces up to 15 years in prison if he's convicted. His parents — Deo Ramnarine, 43, and Sean Smith, 39 — face up to a year in a prison if convicted on their charges of endangering the welfare of a child and permitting unlicensed driving.