New York Injury Talk Blog

A 37-year-old man was killed in a New York auto accident after a 28-year-old man rear-ended his vehicle at high speed on a Queens highway. The driver, who officials said was under the influence, sped his black PT Cruiser past traffic on Grand Central Parkway in Hillcrest and plowed through four cars, according to a news report in the New York Daily News. The car that he struck - a 1996 Volvo - exploded and burst into flames. The victim was burned beyond recognition. Three people in the other cars that were hit were not injured. The allegedly impaired driver was charged with driving while intoxicated and vehicular manslaughter.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious criminal violation in the state of New York. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher. If the act of driving while intoxicated fatally injures a person other than the drunk driver, he or she could be charged with vehicular manslaughter. Under New York law, a person is guilty of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree if he or she causes the death of another person while driving under the influence (Section 125.12). A person is guilty of vehicular manslaughter in the first degree if he or she has a BAC of 0.18 or higher, is driving under a suspended or revoked license, has a prior DUI conviction or causes the death of more than one person.