19-Year-Old Driver Hits Truck on Cross Bronx; Passenger Dies
A 19-year-old BMW driver hit a tractor-trailer while trying to pass it on the Cross Bronx Expressway early April 19, 2023, and front-seat passenger Sulayman Njie, 22, died at a hospital.
Location reported in Open Data.
What We Know
At about 1:43 a.m. on April 19, 2023, a 19-year-old driver tried to pass a tractor-trailer on the Cross Bronx Expressway near the Major Deegan Expressway exits. Police said the driver hit the truck's rear driver's side, and the BMW became pinned between the truck and a concrete divider. Front-seat passenger Sulayman Njie, 22, died at St. Barnabas Hospital. The BMW driver had minor injuries; the 52-year-old truck driver was unhurt. Investigators examined excessive speed as a possible factor, and the city crash record lists unsafe speed and driver inexperience for the BMW driver.
A pass ended against the divider
Police said the 19-year-old driver of a 2015 BMW sedan tried to pass a tractor-trailer at about 1:43 a.m. The driver hit the truck's rear driver's side, and the sedan became pinned between the truck and a concrete divider.
Near the Major Deegan exits
The collision happened on the Cross Bronx Expressway near the exits for the Major Deegan Expressway. The official record and police's account of the sedan's travel place it westbound, though Norwood News also described the location of the emergency call as southbound.
Sulayman Njie died at the hospital
Sulayman Njie, 22, of Parkchester in the Bronx, was riding in the BMW's front passenger seat. Emergency responders took him to St. Barnabas Hospital with severe head and body injuries, and he died there. The BMW driver was treated for minor injuries; the 52-year-old truck driver was unhurt and remained at the scene.
Speed drew scrutiny
ABC7 reported that investigators were examining excessive speed as a possible factor. The city crash record lists unsafe speed and driver inexperience as contributing factors for the BMW driver.
The investigation and morning closure
Police said their Highway District Collision Investigation Squad was investigating. ABC7 reported that the crash closed the Cross Bronx Expressway's westbound lanes during the Wednesday morning commute.