A Queens man was sentenced for crashing into a utility pole at a high speed while intoxicated, killing his passenger.
On December 3, 2021, at approximately 2:04 a.m., Kwesi Williams was driving at a high rate of speed, crossed over the roadway, struck a parked car that was unoccupied and crashed into a utility pole near 272 Elmont Road in Elmont. His passenger, 32-year-old Sadayah Furet, suffered extensive injuries to her head and neck, multiple broken bones, and damage to several major organs, including her lungs and heart. She was taken to NYU Langone Hospital Long Island where she was pronounced dead at 3:33 a.m.
Data recovered from the vehicle revealed that, at the time of the collision, Williams was driving 74 miles per hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone.
A search warrant for Williams’ blood taken at the hospital also revealed that his blood alcohol content was 0.10% approximately an hour and 15 minutes after the crash.
Williams, 43, was arrested later that day at NYU Langone Hospital Long Island by members of the Nassau County Police Department Homicide Squad. He pleaded guilty on June 5, 2024, before Judge Robert McDonald to second-degree manslaughter (a Class C felony) and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (a Class A misdemeanor). On September 23, 2024, Williams was sentenced to two-and-a-half to seven-and-a-half years in prison. The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office recommended a sentence of four to 12 years in prison.
“Kwesi Williams’ reckless and irresponsible decisions caused a catastrophic chain of events that ended the life of Sadayah Furet,” said Nassau DA Anne Donnelly. “Williams was driving more than twice the speed limited and intoxicated when he struck a parked car and then launched his vehicle into a utility pole. Driving while intoxicated is a selfish choice and can quickly lead to the tragic deaths of innocent people. Our thoughts continue to be with Sadayah’s family as they mourn her loss.”