On the morning after Memorial Day weekend, a horrific car crash occurred in Midtown Manhattan that claimed the life of a passenger.
The fatal car accident occurred around 4:00 a.m. outside the Warwick Hotel in New York City. The driver of a motor vehicle reportedly lost control of the car and crashed into a fire hydrant on Sixth Avenue in NYC. Afterwards, the driver and the passenger were trapped inside the car and needed to be removed by rescuers.
The 33-year-old passenger, a man who lived in Queens, NY, was transported to Saint Luke Roosevelt Hospital. He was later declared dead. The motorist, who is 31 years old and lives in Wyandanch, NY, was also treated at the hospital and was later listed in critical, though stable, condition.
According to police, the driver in the car accident now faces criminal charges for vehicular manslaughter.
The force of the car crash was reportedly so powerful that the fire hydrant landed in the rear seat of the vehicle. Detectives have been trying to determine whether speed was a contributing factor. According to witnesses at the scene of the auto accident, the sedan was moving very quickly prior to crashing into the hydrant outside the Warwick Hotel.
One woman who witnessed the collision stated that the traffic light at 54th Street was red. The witnesses said that it appeared as though the motorist attempted to stop at the light but lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the fire hydrant. Another witness said that he heard noise from the vehicle tires, suggesting that the motorist was trying to halt his vehicle just before the accident.
While New York Police Department (NYPD) officers conducted an investigation, part of Sixth Avenue between 54th Street and 55th Street was closed to traffic.
For more information about this tragic accident, read the NBCNewYork.com article, “Driver Arrested after Car Hits Hydrant in Midtown, Kills Passenger: Police.”

In addition to criminal charges, the suspect in this case may face a wrongful death claim from the family of the victim. The personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Proner and Proner can help you file a lawsuit against the person who was responsible for the death of your family member. You may be able to recover compensation, including medical expenses, funeral expenses, and the loss of support, services and the possibility of inheritance. Contact us today to discuss your case.