An unfortunate incident unfolded in Queens, resulting in the untimely death of a 14-year-old girl who was ejected from a car that collided with a stationary UPS truck.
Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, particularly why a 16-year-old boy was operating the vehicle, accompanied by another minor. Preliminary findings from the NYPD indicate that the young driver, who possessed a Learner’s Permit, was exceeding the speed limit.
Heartbroken and desperate for closure, Keisha Francis, the grieving mother of the victim, expressed her anguish, stating, “As a mother, a mother don’t want to go through this. I found her bracelet. I can’t sleep. I come to get her. I come to get my daughter.”
In the aftermath of the tragic collision, Francis painstakingly searched through shattered glass in search of any remnants that would remind her of her beloved daughter, Fortune Williams. Among the fragments, a bracelet was all that remained, serving as a poignant reminder of a life cut short.
Devastated by the loss, Francis shared, “I have three children, and she showed me more love than anything else. At night, I have to cuddle with Fortune. I couldn’t sleep last night. I can’t live without my daughter.”
During a vigil held in honor of Fortune on Thursday night, the weight of the unbearable pain became overwhelming for both Francis and the victim’s aunt. The outpouring of support was so immense that the NYPD had to intervene to manage the traffic, as a sea of purple – symbolizing remembrance – spilled onto the streets.
Before the arrival of the authorities, the sound of speeding vehicles drowned out the heart-wrenching cries of a grieving mother.
Fortune was a passenger in the red BMW at the time of the incident. Eyewitness News obtained footage that captures the tragic moment when the car collided with the stationary UPS truck. However, out of sensitivity, the video was cut before the impact occurred.
The force of the collision caused the delivery driver to be thrown to the ground, and an eyewitness described the speed of the BMW as “basically maybe 90-100 mph.”
According to a witness, the 16-year-old driver of the BMW had been tailing a tractor-trailer on North Conduit Avenue around 6:45 p.m. the previous day when he attempted to change lanes, resulting in the loss of control.
Law enforcement, having set up a speed trap the following day, revealed that the teenage driver was traveling at an excessively high rate of speed.
Although the driver survived the crash, Fortune was tragically ejected from the vehicle upon impact. She was a student at Springfield Gardens High School with aspirations in the medical field.
Her life was abruptly cut short, leaving an irreparable void in her mother’s heart. Francis mournfully shared, “My life will never be the same without Fortune. Fortune is a sweetheart. She’s a loving, caring child.”
According to her mother, Francis was working a double shift on the night of the tragedy. Fortune had been at home with her older sister but ventured outside to spend time in her friend’s car. Tragically, she never returned home.
The 16-year-old driver of the car was transported to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, where he is currently in stable condition.