On June 8, a New York teenager who was involved in a car accident that resulted in three fatalities and seven injuries was taken into custody and charged with several offenses, including three counts of second-degree manslaughter. The teen, age 15, was set to go to court on June 11.
Authorities said that the 15-year-old was driving an SUV on a highway in Long Island with eight teenage passengers and her 18-month-old baby shortly before 12 p.m. According to police, the SUV had been stolen the day before. The teenager reportedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll several times before it came to rest off the side of the road.
The accident caused three teens to be ejected from the vehicle. They died as a result of their injuries. These three individuals were identified as a 16-year-old boy, a 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy. The 13-year-old was reportedly the driver’s younger brother. Five other teenagers, the driver and the baby reportedly suffered minor injuries.
Car accidents can have a number of different causes, including alcohol or drug use, distracted driving or poor conditions. Regardless of the cause, passengers and individuals in other vehicles that may become involved are at risk for serious injury or even death. Those who suffer injuries in a car collision may be entitled to seek compensation from the liable driver’s insurance company. A personal injury attorney could assist with filing the lawsuit against the liable parties while determining the full cost of the accident, which may include medical expenses and lost income.