Latimer: 16-year-old driver may have fallen asleep in Scarsdale crash that killed 5
In a news conference, Westchester County George Latimer said that 16-year-old Malik Smith did not have a driver’s permit or license in either New York or Connecticut. He also said that Nissan Rogue SUV was a rental from a parent.
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3h agoInvestigators
are probing the possibility that the 16-year-old driver in Sunday’s fatal and
fiery single-vehicle crash fell asleep or was distracted before leaving the
Hutchinson River Parkway.
Officials
released the names Monday of the five young people killed in the crash that
occurred around 12:20 a.m. between exits 12 and 13, north of the Mamaroneck
Road exit.
They
are Andrew Billips, 8, Shawnell Cross, 11, Zahnyiah Cross, 12, Malik Smith, 16,
and Anthony Billips Jr., 17. Investigators say the family had recently moved to
Derby, Connecticut, from the New York City area, roughly 50 miles north of
where the crash occurred.
A
9-year-old boy, Abraham Billips, was the lone survivor. He was riding in the rear
hatchback cargo area and was able to escape the burning car by crawling out the
back of the vehicle. He suffered injuries not considered life-threatening.
In
a news conference, Westchester County George Latimer said that Smith did not
have a driver’s permit or license in either New York or Connecticut. He also
said that Nissan Rogue SUV was a rental from a relative.
Latimer
said there was no indication that the vehicle had slowed around a curve in the
road before leaving the roadway, striking a boulder, then a tree and bursting
into flames. He also said that speed was not a factor and an eyewitness said
that he was traveling the limit (55 mph).
It
is not clear if Smith or the passenger were wearing seat belts or exactly where
they were coming from. Latimer said an unverified report had them returning
from a family function in New Jersey.
He
also said that the relationships between those inside the vehicle were not
immediately clear but did include at least two sets of siblings.
The
juveniles were not enrolled at any Connecticut school. Smith had been enrolled
at a Brooklyn high school, Latimer said.
"This
was a horrific accident. This was a horrific accident site," said Latimer.
"We grieve with the families involved...these were individuals that had
their whole life ahead of them."
Latimer
said he hopes more details will come to light in the next 48 hours.
