In what is believed to be the first prosecution of its kind in New York, Sean Smith (40) and Deo Ramnarine (43) were sentenced this week for providing the car that their at-the-time-16-year-old son crashed in Queens last May. The driver, who had only a “junior driver’s license,” had not earned the privilege of driving without supervision, or within the boundaries of New York City. The boy was gifted a bright red 2005 BMW E46, which he slammed headlong into a UPS truck while allegedly doing 101 miles per hour in a 35 zone. The boy’s passenger, 14-year-old Fortune Williams, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Smith and Ramnarine pleaded guilty to child endangerment charges and ordered to take a 26-week parenting course. Smith faces an additional three years of probation, sentenced by New York State Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinsky.
“The parents of a 16-year-old gave their son a BMW when he did not have legal authority to drive it anywhere in New York City,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.
“We allege that because of the teenager’s actions 14-year-old Fortune Williams is now dead after she was thrown from the car when it crashed into a UPS truck at more than 100 miles per hour. Parents who provide vehicles to their children and let them drive illegally can be held responsible in the case of tragedies such as this one.”
The driver, now 17, faces a pending manslaughter case (among other charges) which could see him in prison for up to 15 years. Investigators determined that the boy frequently drove the BMW to school as early as November of 2022, despite not legally being allowed to do so. He had also previously been ticketed for driving without a license and using a “portable electronic device” while driving.