The crash happened around 11:35 p.m. on the eastbound Belt Parkway near 65th Street in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn. Investigators said the survivors told police they had just left a gas station and were on their way home.
Investigators say the 18-year-old driver of a 2002 Cadillac Escalade appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed when he moved from the center lane into the right lane and then braked for slower traffic ahead. A 2024 Honda HR-V struck the SUV from behind, sending the Escalade into a guardrail. Police said the vehicle spun and overturned.
Three occupants of the Escalade, ages 16, 17 and 18, were ejected onto the roadway and later died at area hospitals. Two surviving occupants of the SUV were wearing seat belts and were taken to Maimonides Medical Center in stable condition, according to police.
The Honda was occupied by a 47-year-old driver and a 43-year-old passenger. Both women were taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn and were listed in stable condition.
Police said the 18-year-old Escalade driver had a valid license. He had previously received six summonses, including citations for speeding, driving on the shoulder and an unsafe lane change. Authorities said he had also previously had his license temporarily suspended after failing to appear in court on traffic violations.
Family members of the injured victims gathered at the hospital as investigators worked to determine the exact cause of the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
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