Legal news for New York automobile accident attorneys – Manhattan cab driver admitted to not taking his medication for epilepsy prior to an accident that killed a passenger.
Driver pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and several more charges for no jail time.
Manhattan, NY (www.NewYorkInjuryNews.com) – A former Manhattan cab driver admitted to quitting taking his medications and consequently having a seizure just before the cab he was working crashed, killing a 20-year-old student who was a passenger, as reported by the New York Times.
The admission came during a State Supreme Court hearing in Manhattan on Monday, March 29, 2010, four years after the crash.
The driver, Hassan Afzal, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and several other charges as part of a deal that will keep him out of jail. Sentencing will be on April 16, 2010, and prosecutors are recommending he serve five years’ probation.
Before the deal was reached, Afzal was expected to argue innocence and blame the accident on mechanical failure.
The accident that killed one student also injured three other passengers in the taxi. In connection with the three injured parties, Afzal pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree assault. More admissions included filing false records and withholding information about his seizures on applications for his driver’s and hack license.
Afzal’s driver’s and hack licenses have been revoked. It will be up to the Department of Probation whether or not he will be allowed to visit his wife in Pakistan.
Lawsuits from the case have been settled, but their terms have not been disclosed.
Legal News Reporter: Tara Monks – Legal news for New York automobile accident attorneys.