QUEENS, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced charges against a teenage driver and his parents following a fatal car crash that killed 14-year-old Fortune Williams. The incident occurred when the unlicensed 16-year-old driver, driving a BMW at over 100 miles per hour, crashed into a parked UPS truck on North Conduit Avenue in Jamaica, resulting in the car splitting in half and the ejection of Williams, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The teen driver, who received the BMW as a gift from his father, faces charges of manslaughter and reckless driving. Despite holding a junior license requiring adult supervision, he was alone with Williams during the May 17 crash. He had been previously ticketed in November 2022 for driving without a license and using a portable electronic device while driving.
The driver’s parents face charges for endangering the welfare of a child and permitting unlicensed operation. District Attorney Katz emphasized the combined recklessness and negligence of both the minor and the adults responsible for enabling his driving.
The now 17-year-old driver, arraigned today, faces multiple charges including manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment, and various traffic violations.