A 18-year-old man who caused the death of 14-year-old Fortune Williams two years ago by driving without a valid driver’s license was recently sentenced to 1 year and 4 months to 4 years in prison by the Queens District Court. This case not only holds the young offender accountable for the legal consequences but also marks the first case in New York State where parents were convicted for allowing their son to drive illegally and be involved in a fatal accident.
In the evening of May 17, 2023, at around 6:38 pm, the then 16-year-old teenager was driving a red 2005 BMW 325i at about 101 miles per hour (in a 30-mile speed limit zone) on North Conduit Avenue in Queens when the car lost control near 160th Street. It first collided with a parked UPS truck and then with a moving trailer. The girl was seated in the front passenger seat of the BMW and was thrown out of the car, hitting the rear of the UPS truck and tragically passed away on the spot.
The accident also caused injuries to an employee who was entering the UPS truck, leading to swelling in the leg, facial lacerations, and bruises on the chest.
During the time the teenager was being treated at the hospital, he told the police that he had picked her up from Williams’ house and was heading to his grandmother’s house. His father, Sean Smith, admitted to the police that although the BMW was registered in his name, it was actually purchased for his son. At that time, the teenager only had a teenage driver’s license issued by the state of New York, which prohibits driving within New York City.
What’s even more shocking is that as early as November 2022, the teenager had already been fined by the police for driving without a license and using electronic devices while driving. School staff had also witnessed him driving this car to school and had informed his parents on multiple occasions.
On May 12, 2025, the teenager pleaded guilty to charges including manslaughter in the second degree, assault in the second and third degree, reckless endangerment in the second degree, reckless driving, and multiple traffic violations. Judge Michael Yavinsky of the District Court ruled that he was a juvenile offender and sentenced him to 1 year and 4 months to 4 years in prison.
In 2024, his father, Smith, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and was sentenced to 3-year probation, required to participate in a 26-week parenting program, and a Victim Impact Panel Program. His mother, Deo Ramnarine, also pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and disorderly conduct, and after completing the relevant programs, the more serious charges were dropped, ultimately resulting in a punishment for disorderly conduct.