Driver in BMW hits Belt Parkway median; two teen passengers die
Arrivals
On Jan. 29, a 19-year-old driver in a BMW hit a median on the eastbound Belt Parkway in Queens and overturned the sedan, killing passengers Ronish Kush, 16, and Sukhmani Singh, 18.
Location reported in Open Data.
What We Know
On Jan. 29, a 19-year-old driver was traveling east on the Belt Parkway in a 2011 BMW when he hit a median and overturned the sedan. Police investigators said speed was a factor. Ronish Kush, 16, died at the scene; Sukhmani Singh, 18, died at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. The driver was hospitalized in stable condition. ABC7 reported that the three occupants were friends. The city recorded the crash at 11:44 p.m., while ABC7 and the New York Post reported a time of about 10:45 p.m.
The crash and the disputed time
Police investigators said the 19-year-old driver was traveling east at high speed in a 2011 BMW 328 when he hit a median and overturned the sedan. The city recorded two deaths and one injury.
The city crash record gives 11:44 p.m. as the crash time, and QNS said officers arrived at about 11:44 p.m. ABC7 and the New York Post instead placed the crash at about 10:45 p.m.
On the eastbound Belt Parkway
The crash happened on the Belt Parkway in Springfield Gardens, Queens. QNS placed it near 150th Street; ABC7 and the New York Post described it as near Farmers Boulevard. ABC7 reported that police closed the eastbound lanes east of 150th Street for more than six hours while they investigated.
Two friends died; the driver survived
Ronish Kush, 16, of New Hyde Park was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. Sukhmani Singh, 18, of Bellrose was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The 19-year-old driver was hospitalized in stable condition. ABC7 reported that all three occupants were friends.
Investigators cited speed
Police investigators said the driver was traveling at high speed and failed to navigate the roadway before hitting the median. The city crash record also identifies unsafe speed as a contributing factor.
Investigation continued
ABC7 reported on Jan. 30 that police had made no arrests and that the investigation was ongoing.