This past weekend, a group of young women were involved in a horrific traffic accident on the North Fork of Long Island. The women, who made the right decision by hiring a limousine to drive them home after an afternoon of wine tasting, were longtime friends who spent the day partaking in a festive summertime tradition. However, the smart decision turned tragic when their black limousine rode a short distance before sloping into a U-turn at a crossing well-known and frequently traveled by weekend visitors in the North Fork farmland.
It was at this difficult intersection that a red pickup truck came bounding down Route 48 and collided with the broadside of the limo, practically ripping the long vehicle in half. Four of the women died – three almost instantly from the impact, another a short time later at a hospital – and two more were critically injured.
The young women, all starting their careers with bright futures ahead of them, did the right thing but unfortunately accidents happen when we least expect them. Even after taking all the proper precautions such as traveling together and not driving while drinking, tragedy ensued.
Alcohol is said to be behind the devastating crash, according to authorities. They also charged the driver of the pickup a DWI, a misdemeanor charge that Suffolk County prosecutors said could be upgraded once more information is uncovered from toxicology tests.
Long Island is notorious for being densely populated and crisscrossed by roads that teem with summertime visitors who are unfamiliar with the windy roads and sharp curves. Nassau and Suffolk counties consistently lead the state in alcohol-related crashes and fatalities. For police officers and prosecutors here, sunny weekends spent at the beaches or the wineries are often bright down by tragic accidents such as this.
In 2013, the two counties accounted for the largest percentage – 7.3 percent in Nassau and 14.2 percent in Suffolk- of alcohol-related fatalities on New York State roads, according to state data. In 2013, 52 people died in such crashes in Suffolk County and 27 died in Nassau County.
The Law Office of Richard M. Kenny has a wealth of expertise in dealing with limousine and DWI accidents. The lawyers at our firm handled the tragic 2005 accident where a drunken driver heading the wrong way on the Meadowbrook State Parkway in southern Nassau County slammed into a limousine coming from a wedding, killing a 7-year-old girl and the chauffeur. Our lawyers tried this case successfully and obtained the verdict and settlement that those involved in the accident needed and deserved.
If you or a loved one is involved in a limousine or DWI accident, call the lawyers at the Law Office of Richard M. Kenny to handle your case. Our century of experience combined with our $250 million in settlements over the past several years dealing with accidents like these will get you the results you deserve.
