On Behalf of Simon & Gilman, LLP | Oct 5, 2018 | Firm News
An 88-year-old Whitestone woman, who struck and killed a 17-year-old driver from Flushing on June 25, has agreed to plead guilty to reckless endangerment charges for causing her death.
According to police, the young woman was walking in a crosswalk nearby the intersection of Utopia Parkway and 16th Avenue that day when the octogenarian crashed into her. The teen died of blunt force injuries soon thereafter.
When questioned by police, the elderly Queens resident noted that she didn’t see the teen or the red light before the crash occurred. They placed her under arrest not long after she made those incriminating statements.
In the months leading up to her guilty plea, many area residents had relentlessly petitioned officials at the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. They wanted them to order that all motorists 80 or older be retested every two years to see if they were fit to keep their license. So far, at least 20,000 people have signed the petition.
The defendant will be required to permanently relinquish her driver’s license and sign the petition as part of her plea deal. Her release from police custody is conditional upon her not committing any other crimes. If she does, then the judge presiding over the matter has vowed to place her in jail for an entire year.
Walking along New York City’s heavily trafficked streets carries significant risks for pedestrians. It not uncommon for a motorist who is distracted to miss seeing a light or something in their path. Impaired or elderly drivers may have delayed vision or motor skills, which makes them more apt to cause serious crashes as well.
Recovering from injuries or footing the bill for a funeral can both be costly. Let a Queens motor vehicle accidents attorney advise you how to recover compensation for those losses.
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