A tragic car accident occurred that claimed the life of a 21-year-old college junior. Amanda Miner had just celebrated her 21st birthday while she was home for spring break. She saw “Wicked” on Broadway, had dinner with her family, and went out with friends.
However, the celebration turned tragic on the way home to Brooklyn. The young woman was killed when she was thrown from a vehicle operated by her intoxicated friend, Stefan Hoyte, age 26, who was an NYPD traffic agent. The crash took place while they were on the Williamsburg Bridge. According to police, Ms. Miner was in the back seat of the car as it moved at an excessive rate of speed just after 3:00 a.m.
The off-duty traffic agent, Mr. Hoyte, lost control of the car and rammed into a barrier separating the roadway prior to striking a support pillar with such an impact that it split the car in half. Ms. Miner, who was from Brooklyn, was ejected from the wreck and died at the scene. Mr. Hoyte and his passenger in the front seat, Michael Camacho, age 24, were transported to Bellevue Hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries. Mr. Camacho also worked as an NYPD traffic agent.
Ms. Miner was the youngest of three children and was a junior at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, where she was studying anthropology and sociology. She had aspired to become a social worker.
Mr. Hoyte faces the following charges:
- Vehicular manslaughter
- Criminally negligent homicide
- Driving while intoxicated
- Citation for speeding
A Breathalyzer test revealed that he had a blood alcohol concentration level of .103, which exceeds the legal limit of .08.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident or lost a loved one in such an accident, due to the negligence of another motorist, call the personal injury attorneys at Proner and Proner. You may be able to recover compensation to pay for your medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Having an attorney advocate for your interests can help ease the burden while you are recuperating from your injuries.