On April 18, the New York Police Department announced the arrest of a 24-year-old motorcyclist suspected of causing a fatal accident that resulted in the death of a 45-year-old disc jockey and producer from West New York, New Jersey. The police made the arrest after the suspect went through a grand jury indictment. The New York City Police Departments’ Bureau of Criminal Investigation worked with other police departments for a number of months on the investigation. Following the indictment, the police arrested the suspect and released him on a $20,000 bond.
The grand jury indicted the 24-year-old motorcyclist on multiple misdemeanor and felony charges, including aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, negligent homicide and reckless driving. The suspect was set to appear back in Westchester County Court on April 28.
During the May 2014 accident, the 45-year-old DJ was pronounced dead at the scene, and emergency responders took the suspect to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The other driver involved in the accident was released from the hospital that same day with minor injuries. On the afternoon of the accident, the 24-year-old motorcyclist was allegedly heading south on Sprain Brook Parkway at high speeds of up to 90 miles per hour when he struck the rear end of a car, driven by a man from Mamaroneck. The car struck the guardrail and hit the 45-year-old man from West New York when it rebounded. Both motorcycle riders were thrown from their bikes during the accident, and the motorcycles went up in flames. The suspect was allegedly operating his motorcycle on a suspended license.
After fatal car accidents claim the lives of their spouses, children or parents, family members might be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the drivers responsible. Under New York law, family members have two years from the time of the accident to initiate wrongful death lawsuits. Police records, eyewitness accounts, medical records, court reports and accident reconstructions may help the plaintiff’s side to build a stronger wrongful death case.
Source: New City Patch, “State Police Share Details of Lengthy Investigation into Motorcycle Crash,” Lanning Taliaferro, April 18, 2015
Source: New City Patch, “New York City Man Indicted 11 Months after Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Westchester,” Lanning Taliaferro, April 17, 2015