A deadly car crash occurred in Freeport, Long Island, where a 2001 Buick hit a 2012 Mercedes Benz at the intersection of Rutland Road and East Seaman Avenue at about 8:00 p.m.
A victim of the collision was Brandee Griffin, age 33, who was a passenger in the Buick. The operator of that vehicle, William Billups, age 45, of Hempstead NY, faces the following charges:
- Second degree manslaughter
- Third degree assault
- Third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle
According to police, just before the crash, two plain-clothes officers observed Billups’ car move past them at a high rate of speed. They proceeded to follow the car and eventually pulled the vehicle over at the intersection of Independence and North Main Street, but the motorist reportedly drove off as the officers drew near. The police officers were no longer able to view the car, but they heard the sound of a crash and drove to the place where the vehicles collided.
It was reported that Billups’ car went through a stop sign and an intersection, which was the site of the crash.
Griffin, who had two children, suffered blunt force trauma injuries in the auto accident. She was taken to Nassau University Medical Center, where she was declared dead at about 11:00 p.m. The person driving the Mercedes, Argenis Tavares, age 24, suffered a broken jaw and was carried to a nearby hospital.
Billups sustained a head injury and a broken leg. According to law enforcement, he was previously arrested 22 times. Some of his prior arrests were reportedly for domestic violence, drug sales, and robbery. He also reportedly had seven driver’s license suspensions. He remains on parole until 2018.
If you suffered an injury as a result of the negligence or reckless driving behavior of a motorist, call the personal injury attorneys at Proner and Proner.
