Charges filed for deadly DWI driver on BQE

On Behalf of | Apr 28, 2021 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

A Long Island woman was arraigned last Friday and charged with multiple offenses in connection with a deadly traffic accident that occurred on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in January. Chelsea Rety, 22, of Copiague, has been charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault in connection with the deadly crash.

According to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on January 22, Rety was driving a 2016 Toyota Scion eastbound on the BQE at speeds of over 100 mph with two friends in the car.

As she approached the Flushing Avenue exit, Exit 30, Rety allegedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a barrier. The front passenger was taken to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. The other passenger had minor injuries. Rety had a blood alcohol level of .09 and was legally DWI.

The hard facts

Even though last year saw fewer cars on the road due to lockdowns and the rise of telecommuting, fatalities surged when factored in as part of the total miles travelled (VMT). According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there were an estimated 42,060 motor vehicle deaths last year, up by 8% over 2019. But when factoring in this number with the VMT, the rate rose to 24%, the highest surge in almost a century.

Close to a third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States are already due to alcohol impairment each year. Experts suggest that the spike in fatalities last year was primarily due to risky behaviors, such as impaired or risky or distracted driving, driving without a seatbelt or speeding. Drivers speeding over 80 mph increased throughout most of 2020.

The tragic consequences of driver negligence

Coping with the unexpected loss of a loved one in a traffic accident is bad enough. When the accident was due to another driver’s distracted or drunk driving, recklessness or other form of negligence, it is possible to pursue a wrongful death claim.

While no financial compensation can replace such a tragic loss, a settlement can ease the burden of pain and suffering, medical bills and funeral expenses or loss of future earnings. Having trusted and experienced legal counsel serving the five boroughs and Long Island to represent you at this time can help provide the closure your family needs.

 

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