In the early hours of May 13, 2020, an MTA employee, identified as 24-year-old Stephen Singh by ABC 7 News, was taken into police custody after crashing an MTA repair truck into a parked Pepsi delivery truck near Times Square. Two accident victims were hospitalized following the collision, according to the FDNY. Their conditions are unknown, but police say their injuries are non-life threatening.
At around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Singh was reportedly still on duty when he struck the idled Pepsi truck on 42nd Street near 6th Avenue in Midtown. The Pepsi employee was making a delivery at the time of the accident. Both Singh and the Pepsi employee were taken to Bellevue Hospital and treated for minor injuries. Afterwards, police took Singh into custody for questioning. Reports from ABC 7 state that the driver faces charges of driving while intoxicated.
A video shared by Loudlabs News NYC captures the scene of the accident as first responders transported two accident victims who were trapped in the collision and extricated. Police say that their conditions are non-life threatening. We hope they are able to quickly and fully recover following this harrowing event.
MTA spokesman Tim Minton said in a statement that “the employee who was charged by police has been suspended from duty effective immediately pending investigation and review.”
There are many dangers involved with driving while under the influence. Impaired drivers are unable to properly control their vehicles and not only place themselves at great risk, but the innocent lives of those around them. If the driver had been on the road at a later time in the day, it is likely he could have injured many more people, especially while traveling near Times Square.
Under New York law, victims of accidents caused by impaired drivers are entitled to damages resulting from their accident injuries. Additionally, they are able to file for punitive damages, which are damages intended to punish the impaired driver for their misconduct. Punitive damages must be paid for personally by the guilty party and are meant to deter similar behavior from other drivers. Furthermore, if a victim were to die as a result of an accident caused by an impaired driver, their family may be able to file a wrongful death case to recover damages related to their loved one’s death.
If you have been involved in an accident that was caused by a negligent, impaired driver, it may be in your best interest to contact a skilled lawyer with experience in litigating driver impairment cases. The attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy are dedicated to obtaining justice for those who have suffered due to the negligence of another party. Our lawyers work tirelessly to attain the greatest and fairest possible compensation for each of our clients. Our proven track record includes a $32.7 million verdict for a man who was struck by a driver who was impaired by drugs.
To receive a free, no-obligation legal consultation from one of our experienced attorneys, please call 212-736-5300 or fill out our online contact form.