Rare Single-Car Accident Kills 5 in Queens

Single-vehicle accidents themselves aren’t rare. But what is rare is for a single-vehicle accident to end with multiple deaths and the vehicle looking like it crashed with at least one other moving car. But in an accident in Queens over the weekend, that’s exactly what happened.

A Mercedes Benz SUV carrying seven passengers in the early Sunday morning hours was mangled when it collided with a pillar. Three women and two children were killed. The driver, one adult passenger and another child were all rushed to the hospital.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the vehicle was leaving a gathering of Nigerian immigrants who had gathered from around the country in Queens for a banquet and meeting. They were heading home around 3 a.m.

Witnesses report that the SUV breezed through two red lights and was traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver, a 45-year old woman, collided with a pillar supporting the AirTran to JFK airport.

A few occupants, including one of the children, were thrown from the vehicle and found on the street or under the SUV. Others were still buckled in when emergency officials arrived.

A 26 year old male passenger was reportedly going to be treated and released from Jamaica Hospital. The driver was undergoing surgery, and a 7-year old boy was in stable condition.

According to Chief Stephen Browne of the NYFD, the accident was the worse single car accident he had seen in his 26 years on the job.

“To see this much human life devastation in a single-car accident on a side street is not normal,” he said.

Every time we sit in the passenger seat, we put our lives in the hands of the driver. And even when the driver is someone we know, love, and trust, a split-second decision could end in tragedy.

At the Law Offices of Omrani & Taub, we’ve represented people who were injured in serious accidents caused by loved ones. This can be a delicate situation as no one wants to cause stress and financial hardship for the people they love. But, in many situations, filing a personal injury claim against the driver is you best chance at recovery.

If you’ve been seriously hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, we may be able to help. Call us today to discuss the specifics of your case and how a personal injury claim works. Our New York accident attorneys can be reached at 212-LAWSUIT.