Three women were killed the night of May 21 after the Lincoln Town Car in which they were passengers was struck by a suspected impaired driver. According to a report on Newsday.com, Nassau police detectives arrived at the scene of the fatal car accident. They said Dante Lennon, who was driving a 2012 Mercedes-Benz sedan, allegedly hit the 2010 Lincoln Town Car with six occupants in the eastbound lane in front of 214 Jericho Turnpike.
Injuries and Fatalities
The three female passengers in the backseat of the Town Car were pronounced
dead at the scene, police said. The driver and remaining passengers in the vehicle were transported to local hospitals and have been listed in stable condition. Lennon, 22, was charged with three counts of vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated.
Lennon suffered non-life-threatening injuries. A security guard nearby told Newsday that the collision sounded like “a bomb went off.” The investigation into this fatal crash is ongoing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased victims. We offer our deepest condolences to them.
The Dangers of Impaired Driving
Substances that impair driving include illegal drugs, legal drugs, alcohol and even some over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Alcohol and drugs typically affect the ability to drive as they slow coordination, judgment and reaction times. Alcohol and drugs or a combination of the two can also alter driver behaviors. For example, certain drugs such as methamphetamine tend to make drivers more reckless and aggressive.
Using two or more drugs at the same time including alcohol can amplify the impairing effects of each drug the person has used. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause extreme drowsiness, dizziness and other side effects. Needless to say, this type of impairment can be extremely dangerous for pedestrians, bicyclists and others on the roadway.
DUI Statistics
Under New York law, it is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. It is against the law to operate with a blood alcohol concentration or BAC of 0.08% or higher. The legal limit is 0.04% for drivers of commercial vehicles such as big rigs.
In New York State, impaired drivers cause more than 17,000 deaths annually. Also, statewide, slightly more than 30% of the fatal crashes are alcohol-related. Every two minutes, there is an injury involving a drunk driver.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), every day, about 32 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes, which amounts to one person every 45 minutes. In 2020, 11,654 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths — a 14% increase from 2019.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Injured victims of negligent (careless) drivers can seek compensation from at-fault parties for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families that have lost loved ones in car accidents can seek compensation for damages such as lost future income, medical and funeral costs, pain and suffering, etc.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 50 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and/or medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/new-hyde-park-dwi-crash-jericho-turnpike-ariz06py