QUEENS, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced charges against a 16-year-old driver and his parents following a fatal car crash on May 17. The accident, involving a BMW colliding with a parked UPS truck on North Conduit Avenue, resulted in the death of 14-year-old Fortune Williams, a passenger in the car.
The unlicensed teen driver, who received the BMW as a gift from his father, faces charges including manslaughter and reckless driving. Witnesses reported seeing the minor driving to school unaccompanied since November 2022. He was previously ticketed for driving without a license and using a portable electronic device while driving.
Deo Ramnarine, 43, and Sean Smith, 39, are charged with endangering the welfare of a child and permitting unlicensed operation.
District Attorney Katz emphasized the combined responsibility of the driver and his parents in the incident. The teen now faces up to 15 years in prison, while his parents could each face up to a year in prison.
Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder has scheduled their next court appearance for February 5.
