A tragic crash in Queens has resulted in the death of a 14-year-old girl and sentencing for her friend’s father, who provided him with a high-speed vehicle. Sean Smith, 40, was sentenced for his role in the incident where his 16-year-old son drove a BMW at speeds of 101 mph in a residential area, colliding with a parked UPS truck. The crash claimed the life of Fortune Williams, who was a passenger in the car.
Smith pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of child endangerment and was sentenced to three years of probation along with mandatory attendance in a 26-week parenting class. Prosecutors indicated that Smith could have faced nearly a year in jail but accepted the plea deal to close the case.
Also involved in the incident is the teen’s mother, who pleaded guilty to similar child endangerment charges last month and has yet to be sentenced. This case has sparked significant legal discussion as it marks a landmark prosecution in New York state regarding parental responsibility when providing a vehicle to an unlicensed driver.
