Two Lives Lost in Staten Island Crash: Examining Fault, Liability, and Wrongful Death Claims Under New York Law

A devastating two-vehicle collision in Staten Island has left a family shattered and once again underscores how quickly a routine drive can turn fatal. As NYC car accident lawyers, cases like this are a painful reminder that serious crashes often result from ordinary traffic movements — and that the consequences are borne most heavily by innocent passengers and families.

The crash occurred last  Friday morning at the intersection of Forest Hill Road and Rockland Avenue in New Springville. A Honda SUV traveling south collided with an Audi Q5 making a left turn. Inside the Honda were 6-year-old Anheli Vasquez and 90-year-old Gerardo Avila, who was on his way to a chemotherapy appointment. Mr. Avila died shortly after the crash. Anheli remained hospitalized with catastrophic injuries and passed away Sunday morning, 48 hours later.

For Anheli’s mother, Marlene Trinidad, the loss is unimaginable. She never left her daughter’s bedside and described returning home without her “princess.” The child, a first-grader born in Staten Island, was remembered as loving, bilingual, and deeply connected to Mr. Avila and his wife, whom she considered her grandparents.

When a Traffic Collision Becomes a Fatal Event

From a legal perspective, crashes involving left-turn movements at busy intersections are among the most dangerous scenarios on New York City roads. Drivers making turns must yield the right of way and ensure that oncoming traffic is clear. When that obligation is breached, the resulting impact often places passengers — especially children and elderly occupants — at extreme risk.

This collision did not just injure drivers. It claimed the life of a man who was actively fighting cancer and a child who never had a chance to recover. These are precisely the cases that demand a careful, independent investigation into:

• Whether the turning driver failed to yield

• Speed, visibility, and traffic control at the intersection

• Prior crash history at the location

• Potential design or safety issues contributing to repeated collisions

It is not lost on the community that this intersection had already been renamed years earlier to memorialize another young life lost in a traffic crash.

Families Face More Than Grief After Fatal Crashes

In the aftermath of fatal car accidents, families are often left not only with emotional devastation but also with sudden financial pressure. Funeral expenses, medical bills, and the loss of a loved one’s support can quickly become overwhelming. Both families involved in this crash have turned to public fundraisers to manage costs no one should have to confront under these circumstances.

Under New York law, surviving family members may have the right to pursue claims related to wrongful death, conscious pain and suffering, and medical expenses arising from a motor vehicle collision. These claims are separate from any criminal investigation and focus solely on accountability and financial recovery for the family.

A Stark Reminder for All Drivers

This Staten Island crash is not an isolated tragedy. It is part of a broader pattern of serious and fatal collisions occurring at familiar intersections across New York City. Every driver has a responsibility to slow down, yield appropriately, and remain alert — particularly in areas with a known history of severe crashes.

As NYC car accident lawyers, our role is to seek accountability when traffic laws are violated and to help families navigate the legal aftermath of events that should never have happened. No legal action can undo this loss, but it can provide answers, accountability, and a measure of justice for those left behind. Contact us online or call us at 212-943-1090 for a consultation with a top NYC trial attorney.

Picture source: GoFUndMe