Driver facing DWI charges after passenger dies in Brookyn car crash

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, NY – A suspected drunk driver was arrested after a crash in Brooklyn that killed a passenger in his car, according to the New York Post.

30-year-old Mark Dookhan of Staten Island was behind the wheel of a 535-I BMW sedan when the accident occurred on the Gowanus Expressway in Bay Ridge Wednesday night at about 11:20 p.m. Police said Dookhan was heading west when he drove into the back of a Freightliner truck that was stopped in traffic near Exit 17 at 92nd Street.

A woman riding in the car with him, 30-year-old Karen Diaz of Staten Island, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Dookhan was not seriously hurt and was treated at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn.

Police say Dookhan was later charged with driving while intoxicated — a crime for which he has a previous conviction — and refusal to take a breathalyzer test. The truck driver, a 46-year-old man, was not injured in the crash.

The NYPD is continuing its investigation into the fatal wreck.

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Contact a New York Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Those who recklessly drive while intoxicated put both themselves and others at risk. If you or someone close to you has been the victim of a drunk driving accident, you may be able to obtain compensation for the damages you have suffered, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The New York drunk driving accident attorneys at Finz & Finz, P.C. are committed to helping people obtain justice and compensation following accidents. Call us at 1-800-TOP-FIRM or reach out to us online for assistance.