At about 8:15 a.m. on Jan. 1, a suspected drunk driver of a Dodge Charger rear-ended a Mercury Marquis cab that was waiting at a red traffic light. The accident occurred at the intersection of Cross Bronx Expressway and Rosendale Avenue. A witness at the scene described the trunk of the Marquis as completely gone.
A 27-year-old female passenger riding in the back seat of the cab suffered severe injuries in the wreck. Responders transported the woman to Jacobi Hospital and the 54-year-old male cab driver to Einstein Hospital. The woman died from her injuries. According to a statement by the cab driver, he was unconscious after the collision, but he was reportedly in stable condition after the accident.
Police officers report the alleged drunk driver is facing charges of criminally negligent homicide and vehicular manslaughter. The 37-year-old man's blood-alcohol level was not immediately known, but he and his 29-year-old passenger suffered minor injuries and were transported to Jacobi Hospital.
Family members of the deceased woman might consider seeking the advice of a personal injury attorney in order to determine whether a wrongful death lawsuit can be maintained. The family may pursue compensation to help with funeral expenses and other financial burdens that can occur after the loss of a loved one. A civil suit is handled separately from any criminal court proceedings that the suspect may be facing, and the outcome of one case does not affect the other. An attorney who has experience in personal injury litigation can explain the process as well as the types of damages that may be able to be awarded.