Bronx River Parkway crash kills 2, leaves 1 critical

SOUNDVIEW (WABC) -- Two people are dead and a third seriously injured in a fiery crash in the Bronx early Friday.

The crash happened around 4:15 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the Bronx River Parkway, just south of the Cross Bronx Expressway, near Watson Avenue in the Soundview section.

Police say a 2006 Mini-Cooper carrying three people was traveling at a high rate of speed when it struck a barrier on the shoulder, went airborne into a tree and then split in two and caught fire.

The rear passenger, Bill Bido, 20, of Bronx, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The front two passengers were ejected and taken to Jacobi Hospital with severe injuries. Xavier Rodriguez, 20, of Bronx, later died, while the 23-year-old driver remains in critical condition.

As a result, all southbound lanes were shut down at Westchester Avenue for the cleanup and investigation. It created nightmare conditions for the morning commute, with vehicles being diverted onto local streets. Southbound lanes reopened just prior to 7 a.m., but traffic was backed up for miles.

The investigation is ongoing.