Driver Dies After Driving Through Rainey Park Into East River
Martins Gonzales, 24, died after police said he drove through Rainey Park and into the East River; the city records one fatality at 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2023, on 34 Avenue.
Location reported in Open Data.
What We Know
Police told Patch that investigators believed Martins Gonzales, 24, drove a white 2021 BMW SUV through a Rainey Park entrance near 34th Street and Vernon Boulevard, traveled west through the park, went through a fence and entered the East River. The city record lists the collision at 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2023, on 34 Avenue, with one person killed and none injured. Patch reported that police received a river-rescue call at about 3:30 a.m. and recovered Gonzales's body from the submerged SUV late Sunday, hours after he entered the water. Police were still investigating what led to the crash when Patch published its report.
Reported vehicle makes
- BMW — accepted press report
Make information is incomplete for the vehicles involved in this crash.
Police described a route through the park
Police told Patch that investigators believed Gonzales drove through a Rainey Park entrance near 34th Street and Vernon Boulevard, traveled west through the park, went through a fence and entered the East River.
The city record lists the collision at 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2023, on 34 Avenue, with one person killed and none injured. Patch reported that police received a 911 call about a river rescue in the park at about 3:30 a.m.
Police identified the driver
Police identified Martins Gonzales, 24, of Centereach, as the driver, according to Patch.
Reports describe the BMW in different terms
Patch described Gonzales's vehicle as a white 2021 BMW SUV. The city record classifies it as a "Station Wagon/Sport Utility Vehicle" and records westbound travel.
The cause remained under investigation
The city record lists "Unsafe Speed" as a contributing factor. Patch reported that police were still investigating what led to the crash when it published its report on Aug. 7, 2023.
Police recovered Gonzales later Sunday
Police pulled Gonzales's body from the submerged SUV late Sunday, hours after he entered the water, according to Patch's account of NYPD statements.
Where
34 AVENUE