A 9-year-old boy lost his life when a Brooklyn man, who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, crashed into the back of a car while driving at speeds of up to 119 miles per hour. The reckless driver has been sentenced to a maximum of 13.5 years in prison, according to officials.
Travis Dickson was behind the wheel of his 2018 BMW 540i, heading west on the Long Island Expressway in Farmingville around 1:49 a.m. on Aug. 22. According to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney, Dickson collided with the back of a 2019 Toyota Corolla without making any effort to stop. The details were shared in a news release.
Angel Salas, a young boy from Deer Park, was securely seated in the back of the car in a booster seat while his father took the wheel.
NFL Draft prospect, former Texas star T’Vondre Sweat, was recently arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI).
Officials reported that Angel sustained severe injuries.
According to Tierney, this case serves as a clear example of the danger that drunk and drug-impaired drivers pose to our communities. These drivers often cause collisions that result in the tragic loss of innocent lives.
“The defendant’s selfish actions resulted in the tragic loss of a child’s life. It is my sincerest hope that this prison sentence provides a measure of solace to the grieving family who are undoubtedly still mourning their heartbreaking loss.”
A former police officer who was fired by the NYPD in 2023 due to a parking dispute is now facing charges of manslaughter following a fatal crash while driving under the influence.
Dickson, who is 32 years old, pleaded guilty in February and was subsequently sentenced on Friday.
The child was quickly taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, but unfortunately, two days later, the doctors declared that the child was brain dead.
After some time, he was taken off life support and his organs were generously donated to those in need, according to officials.
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According to the authorities, Dickson showed signs of being intoxicated after the crash and confessed to smoking marijuana. Additionally, the police found marijuana in his possession.
According to officials, his blood was tested approximately three hours after the crash, which showed an alcohol level of .14%.
The acceptable blood alcohol concentration for driving is 0.08%.
Dickson, who was also driving with a revoked license, admitted guilt to the primary charges of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, officials stated.
