A speeding BMW driven by a teenager crashed into a parked UPS truck in Queens, leading to the tragic death of a 14-year-old girl who was ejected from the car.
The police are currently investigating why a 16-year-old boy was at the wheel. The New York Police Department reported that the teenage driver was operating the vehicle with only a Learner’s Permit and was exceeding the speed limit.
An eyewitness recounted that on Wednesday, May 17, the teen driver was tailing a tractor-trailer on North Conduit Avenue and attempting to change lanes when he lost control of the car. Police, who had established a speed trap nearby, confirmed that the teen was driving at an excessive speed.
The driver survived the horrific crash, but the 14-year-old passenger, Fortune Williams, was tragically thrown from the vehicle upon impact. Williams, a student at Springfield Gardens High School, had aspirations in the medical field.
The victim’s mother, Keisha Francis, expressed her profound grief as she searched through the shattered glass the following morning, looking for some memento of her daughter. She found only a bracelet.
Williams’ family and friends held a vigil on Thursday evening, drawing such a large crowd that the NYPD had to intervene to manage traffic as people flooded the streets.
The teenage driver is now in stable condition at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. The UPS driver was also taken to a local hospital but is reported to be doing well, and the driver of the tractor-trailer did not sustain any injuries.
As of now, the department has not made any arrests related to the crash, and the investigation is ongoing.
