DERBY CHILDREN KILLED IN CRASH ID’D
Driver, 16, in N.Y. crash did not have permit or license, official says
The 16-year-old driver of an SUV who died along with four family members in a crash over the weekend in Westchester County did not have a learner’s permit or license in Connecticut or New York, officials said Monday.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said a witness reported the driver, identified as Malik Smith, went straight where the Hutchinson River Parkway curved just north of the Mamaroneck Road exit in Scarsdale, N.Y. The SUV then went off the highway, struck a boulder and then a tree before the vehicle burst into flames with six children inside around 12:20 a.m. Sunday, Latimer said.
Describing the crash as “horrific,” Latimer identified the children who died as Derby residents Smith, Anthony Billips, 17, Zahnyiah Cross, 12, Shawnell Cross 11, and Andrew Billips, 8. A sixth child, Abraham Billips, 9, also of Derby, survived by crawling out of the shattered back window, Latimer said.
“The crash cost the lives of five young people that is a tragedy, no matter what the details are,” Latimer said.
A family member told Hearst Connecticut Media Group the children were all related and had recently moved to Derby. The family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help with burial expenses that raised about $37,000 as of Monday afternoon.
“We as parents lost five of our children in a very tragic accident and need help deeply,” said Da’Shawn Cross, who created the online fundraiser.
The children were in a 2021 Nissan Rogue that was rented to one of Smith’s family members, but it was not clear how the teen was given access to the vehicle, Latimer said. Criminal charges could be filed depending on what the investigation into the accident reveals, said Terrance Raynor, commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety.
Latimer said authorities believe Smith
was “either distracted or fell asleep” behind the wheel. He said it was unclear based on the scene if any of the occupants were wearing seat belts.
Latimer said the cause of death for each of the children was blunt-force trauma.
Latimer said there was no damage to the SUV that would have indicated another vehicle was involved. He also said there were no tire marks indicating the driver attempted evasive action to avoid the crash.
A witness saw the crash and stopped, helping Abraham Billips as a police officer tried to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher, Latimer said. The Good Samaritan put the 9-year-old in their car and called his mother. The phone call was the first time the family learned about the crash, according to Raynor.
The 9-year-old was taken to Westchester Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Latimer said his office did not know if the child had been released from the hospital. A spokesperson for the hospital said Monday there was no one by that name at the medical center.
The boy has not been interviewed by investigators, Latimer said.
“He’s just seen five members of his family die,” he said.
Police have sporadically been in touch with the family, Latimer said. But they have not been comprehensively
interviewed by investigators, Latimer said.
“As you can imagine, these families are very distraught,” he said.
“They have been cooperative with the questions we’ve asked, but there is a lot more we’ll be asking,” Latimer added.
In a message to the community, Matthew
Conway, superintendent of Derby Public Schools, said he spoke with the family on Sunday. Conway said the family recently moved to Derby and the children had not yet enrolled in the schools.
“Our thoughts go out to the family during this unimaginable tragedy,” he said. “Our team will be
following up with the family to ensure they have the support needed during this time.”
Under New York state law, drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from having more than one passenger, unless the passengers are members of their immediate family or there is a passenger older than 21 in the vehicle.
In Connecticut, 16- and 17-year-olds with a license are prohibited for the first six months from driving with anyone other than a parent, grandparent, or a legal guardian, according to state Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Tony Guerrera.
In the following six months, 16- and 17-yearold drivers with a license
can drive with immediate family members, including siblings, Guerrera said. Drivers under 18 also may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless it is for employment, school, religious activity or medical necessity.