Horrific Subaru Impreza accident 4 teens killed

[Vision33r]

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?se...and&id=8839043

MALVERNE (WABC) -- The black Subaru was literally cut in half after slamming into a tree.

It happened around 3:30 Monday morning on the Southern State Parkway heading west in Malverne.

Friends of the victims came by the scene Monday afternoon.

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They identified the victims as four young men from Queens, all 18 years old.

"They were nice kids you know loved their families their friends, I just can't believe they're gone you know," said Kevin Perseud, a friend.

Police say the driver, 17-year-old Joseph Beer from Queens, missed a curve in the road around exit 17.

17-year-old Joseph Beer was behind the wheel and state police say he was driving with a Learner's Permit which means he should not have been on the road at that hour and should not have had his buddies in the back seat.

According to the DMV, in New York City and Long Island, anyone with a Learner's Permit must be accompanied by a licensed driver who's older than 21 and they cannot be on the road between 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The car swerved across two lanes, flew into the shoulder and hit several trees.

"I heard a loud boom and felt my house shake," a neighbor said.

The four victims were ejected.

Neighbors who heard the bang rushed out to help but it was too late.

"They were all on the highway scattered. There were like three bodies scattered like five feet from each other," said Michael Campo, a neighbor.

"We actually found one young man wandering around the accident site. He didn't seem like he had a scratch on him. I don't know how he made it out of the car like that. He was a little disoriented and we asked him if he knew anyone else was in there and he said he thought so," said Pasquale Loungo, a neighbor.

Now friends of the victims have deal with the pain of it all.

They sorted through the debris all over the side of the road, taking away reminders of their friends.

"I just have chills running through my body, I can't believe it happened," Perseud said.

There are no words that will make the pain go away.

Just showing up and being supportive is the best way to console the victim's families.

That's what happened outside the Khan family house Monday night.

18-year-old Chris Khan was one of the four teens killed in this horrific crash.

"Right now, it's just devastating. Just devastating. They can't believe what happened," said Somdat Bhewan, victim's father.

Somdat Bhewan lost his youngest son, 18-year-old Chris Khan, and he's struggling with the numbness and heartache that come with losing a child.

"It didn't hit me just yet, but it's getting worse actually, yes," Bhewan said.

"That's foolish you know. I don't know why he would do such a thing like that," said Kevin Misripersued, the victim's friend said.

In this Guyanese community in Richmond Hill, Queens, anger, frustration and sadness is how friends of the victims are feeling.

They gave Eyewitness News photos of happier times. They are ones they will cherish as they mourn the four lives cut violently short.

"It's still hard to believe it. I can't get it through my head that it actually happened," said Travis Mahrana, victims' friend.

"All I have is memories. It's just so sad," said Aliesha Hossein, victims' friend.

"I hope it's an eye opener for these kids. It's not going to solve anything, but these kids sometimes when they look back in the wheel of the car, they've got friends, they get out of hand," said John Maharana, victims' friend.

The investigation into the crash is continuing.

I saw on the news tonight, I believe it's a 08-09' WRX STI based on the wheels and the grille badge.

[BRealistic]

That is sad...

But the driver's last name was really Beer?

[volkstyle]

Wow talk about a horrible way to go . RIP

[Tiny4cyl]

Someone should've grabbed a Beer and let him know how dangerous it is to drive with other teens at a young age

[BRealistic]

Wow talk about a horrible way to go . RIP

Yes- easily avoidable death involving young lives is always sad.

And I will just say what I have been thinking- newish WRX, 17 year old driver... 3:30 a.m. Monday morning with several buddies in the car? That just sounds like something bad is going to happen.

The extra weight of the passengers coupled with "how fast can it go" probably contributed to the fatal mistake.

[Gran Turismo]

RIP.

If I had my car when I was 17, the same thing probably would have happened to me.

[unimogken]

RIP.

If I had my car when I was 17, the same thing probably would have happened to me.

Same here!
Especially a car like that!

[patrikman]

Reason number one why I would buy a turbo Legacy before I would buy a WRX: insurance rates because of situations such as this. Yes it is sad, but you can't protect kids from themselves.

[above8k]

[seadoo2006]

Reason number one why I would buy a turbo Legacy before I would buy a WRX: insurance rates because of situations such as this. Yes it is sad, but you can't protect kids from themselves.

Funny, cuz my Subarus cost less than my VWs ...

[patrikman]

Funny, cuz my Subarus cost less than my VWs ...

Do you have a WRX? An STi? No.

[KeiCar]

Do you have a WRX? An STi? No.

Big differentiator right there. All "hot cars" such as that are high for a reason...

[DT EXP]

Very Sad...

But for one who gave that kid that car what were they thinking?? and No seat beats? Can't fix stupid...

[seadoo2006]

Do you have a WRX? An STi? No.

Owned a WRX prior to my GC8 and an STi back in 2007ish for about 6 months ... my GTI cost more than either of them. It largely depends on where you live, but suburban Cleveland was dirt cheap to insure.

I paid $145/month for my STI, $135/month for my WRX, $100/month for my GC8 and my GTI VR6 was $155/month.

This is all with $300k/$100k/$300k limits and $1000 collision and $250 comprehensive deductibles. I also have a very "unclean" record.

[nm+]

You can blame a lot for this.
I blame lack of proper driver's training. The first time you lose traction shouldn't be on a public road with people in the back, and yet, with our nanny-ass fear of showing kids that cars might be fun to drive fast, we feed them DARE-esq FUD.
And once they break the rules and survive doing something their driver's training guy told them would kill them, they figure they can deal with anything.

Your kids ae gonna do stupid **** in cars. Might as well have them know what counter-steering is.

[mx5er]

17 year old with a learner's permit and a WRX STi

Kid probably made in convincing argument with the parents on how safe AWD is

I've driven in that area many time when I was on college and yep there are white knuckled sections on the Southern State PKWY.

At the end of the day, there's always going to be stories like this. I was in a similar situation when I was in college. I was in a brand new BMW E30 (goes to show how old I am ) 325i coupe owned by some rich foreign student. The car had one too many passenger with no one wearing seatbelts in the back. And on top of that, she was goin' at a pretty good clip on the Northern State PKWY. I remember how much we were all laughing b/c she was driving so fast on the twisty stretch of highway.

I guess at the time it was funny but now that I think about it, I guess we were lucky to make it back to our dorms.

[Woodski]

All torn up!


There was a wreck like that up here quite a few years ago.

Car involved in that one?

2006 Subaru WRX STi.

[patrikman]

I also have a very "unclean" record.

Then you are not in any position to discuss normal or average rates. A GTI is also a performance vehicle, especially when equipped with the VR6.

[nm+]

17 year old with a learner's permit and a WRX STi

Kid probably made in convincing argument with the parents on how safe AWD is

I've driven in that area many time when I was on college and yep there are white knuckled sections on the Southern State PKWY.

At the end of the day, there's always going to be stories like this. I was in a similar situation when I was in college. I was in a brand new BMW E30 (goes to show how old I am ) 325i coupe owned by some rich foreign student. The car had one too many passenger with no one wearing seatbelts in the back. And on top of that, she was goin' at a pretty good clip on the Northern State PKWY. I remember how much we were all laughing b/c she was driving so fast on the twisty stretch of highway.

I guess at the time it was funny but now that I think about it, I guess we were lucky to make it back to our dorms.

Honestly, any car made in the last decade or two can go fast enough to get an untrained driver in trouble.

[nickthaskater]

Honestly, any car made in the last decade or two can go fast enough to get an untrained driver in trouble.

This. I could easily kill myself in my Civic; it will happily cruise at 180km/h (112 mph) and can get up to lethal speeds in urban areas without any problem.

[ABATurbo]

It's always sad to hear stories like this. R.I.P.

[aoj2108]

"We actually found one young man wandering around the accident site. He didn't seem like he had a scratch on him"

Ok so who was this kid that was relatively unscathed? Because it is usually the driver who walks away from an accident while the passengers die.

[kingrukus]

I wonder if I am distantly related to any of them - I have a lot of guyanese family in that part of NY.
RIP.
I remember what it was like to be 17 and stupid behind the wheel.

[feels_road]

"We actually found one young man wandering around the accident site. He didn't seem like he had a scratch on him"

Ok so who was this kid that was relatively unscathed? Because it is usually the driver who walks away from an accident while the passengers die.

Yes, it was the driver.

Yeah - five people in that car surely will affect the driving dynamics - especially dangerous at high speed on a road like that one (I've been on it many times, I have relatives just a few miles from the accident).

[Elbows]

I see a whole stack of stupid leading up to this...but I normally try to cut kids a bit of slack. Tough though when you drive stupid, and don't buckle your seat belts...and don't have a proper license...AND have been given a car beyond your skill level.

There was no way that was going to end well.

[worth_fixing]

It's too bad this ended 4 lives. Everybody does dumb stuff in their lives and most live through it with a life lesson or two, but some aren't that lucky. Gauge your dumb stuff guys.

And why the hell do some people not wear seat belts?

[NailsInOurBacks]

You can blame a lot for this.
I blame lack of proper driver's training. The first time you lose traction shouldn't be on a public road with people in the back, and yet, with our nanny-ass fear of showing kids that cars might be fun to drive fast, we feed them DARE-esq FUD.
And once they break the rules and survive doing something their driver's training guy told them would kill them, they figure they can deal with anything.

Your kids ae gonna do stupid **** in cars. Might as well have them know what counter-steering is.

This is a tragic story - but I don't think driver training would necessarily fix the outcome.

I'm going off the extra ordinary assumption that speed played a factor as well as LACK OF SEAT BELTS for the passengers to be ejected from the vehicle upon impact. Plain stupidity to not wear the correct restraint is the culprit, in my opinion. No guarantee that any of the victims would have survived had they worn their restraints but that precaution takes precedence over advanced driver training. And you're right, at 17 with hormones and pressure to be risky especially in such a fast vehicle will inevitably have higher chance for an accident - but I think, regardless of driver training. In fact, I can (with more ease) see the argument that having the false sense of confidence or 'capability' to handle the car at such potentially high speeds would encourage the actions. Would it (advanced training) help? Sure but it wouldn't prevent the problem happening in the first place and I think it minimal impact on catastrophic consequences.

Sad to say but this is fodder for more electronic nannies, and possibly rightfully so - if it can prevent some deaths due to ignorance and/or negligence, it may very well be worth it.

[leaftye]

Sad to say but this is fodder for more electronic nannies, and possibly rightfully so - if it can prevent some deaths due to ignorance and/or negligence, it may very well be worth it.

If you mean nannies as in parental controls or progressive performance related to licensing, then I agree that that could work. If it's just more stability control, then I disagree as that increases the speed at which a crash will occur. If you're going to learn the hard way, it's better that the lesson occur at a lower speed.

[Chileno]

"We actually found one young man wandering around the accident site. He didn't seem like he had a scratch on him"

Ok so who was this kid that was relatively unscathed? Because it is usually the driver who walks away from an accident while the passengers die.

Yep it was the driver who survived here too.

It says in the article the victims were 4 18 year old boys, and the driver is 17.

Doesn't specifically say he survived I don't think...

Can't imagine how much of an idiot that kid feels like and how hated he must be. Probably going to start living up to his namesake to deal with it. ... then do it again.

[NailsInOurBacks]

If you mean nannies as in parental controls or progressive performance related to licensing, then I agree that that could work. If it's just more stability control, then I disagree as that increases the speed at which a crash will occur. If you're going to learn the hard way, it's better that the lesson occur at a lower speed.

Both are beneficial but I do mean on-board electronic/sensor systems to prevent the high speed antics from occurring in the first place. Let the computer cut in - take in the situation, road conditions, occupants, tire pressure, etc. (hell use GPS and gauge the potential risk of the stretch of road itself even). This may not be popular on a car forum but I take more stock in a computer doing its job than human common sense. There's a place and time for a sports/sporty/race car to stretch its legs - at a race track. Then, good riddance to the nannies. Doesn't the Nissan GTR have something like this?

Should we be forced to live in the oppression of T-1000? No. Give an option to turn off the aids, give the freedom to enjoy the vehicle to perform how it was designed to - but do so with the full ownership of responsibility to the potential catastrophic outcome - give the lawyers a break and make it apparent it was simply foolish decisions on the drivers part. Again, working off extra ordinary assumption that the driver didn't turn off aids, didn't wear a seat belt, essentially didn't use common sense. It isn't out of our reach to have the car drive itself. It'd behoove us to take care of our absurdly stupid - who knows what they may be capable of in the future, let's ensure they get the opportunity to reach that point.

So sad to have to argue on this side of the fence.. Give me a 640 whp Z06 with nothing but my right foot to control how things turn out in a controlled environment.

[McBanagon]

This is a tragic story - but I don't think driver training would necessarily fix the outcome.

I agree, that "lack of training" comment cracked me up. He had his learner's permit. New drivers are new.

Even if the Scandinavian flick and trail-braking were part of the Long Island driver's ed curriculum, it wouldn't have fixed stupid.

[leaftye]

Both are beneficial but I do mean on-board electronic/sensor systems to prevent the high speed antics from occurring in the first place. Let the computer cut in - take in the situation, road conditions, occupants, tire pressure, etc. (hell use GPS and gauge the potential risk of the stretch of road itself even). This may not be popular on a car forum but I take more stock in a computer doing its job than human common sense. There's a place and time for a sports/sporty/race car to stretch its legs - at a race track. Then, good riddance to the nannies. Doesn't the Nissan GTR have something like this?

I believe the GTR had something that restricted speed unless it was at a track. That's more in line with what I was talking about.

As for GPS predicting the potential for disaster, that's impractical even if you put aside the inaccuracy of GPS. The problem is accounting for sudden turns. Would it keep it slow enough to be safe at every intersection? Would it have electronic steering and braking to prevent such a turn from being made? This might be practical in the future. This would be appropriate for discussion in the Lutz predicts self driving cars thread.

[urogolf]

this is horrible for sure!

anyone else think that this is an awful lot of car for a freshly "learners permitted" driver?

[geofftii2002]

And what's your 17 year old kid doing out at 3AM?? A little parental structure goes a long way, you know. I don't know about you all, but I had a pretty strict curfew and was expected to abide by it... which I did or else my dad would have my hide. It was just engrained in me.

Sad story, especially for the families. But it'll keep happening. Stupid parents will keep buying their kids cars they can't handle and certain kids are always going to push the limits.

It's another case of some spoiled brat bringing his buddies down with him.

[bbk]

this is horrible for sure!

anyone else think that this is an awful lot of car for a freshly "learners permitted" driver?

Hell yes. I don't know what parents are thinking, many of my son's HS classamtes have Camaros, Mustangs, 370Zs, GTIs, WRXs, 3 series, etc and one just got a new Golf R. One of them totalled a new Camaro and then showed up with another new one a few weeks later. Sure, teenagers can get in trouble in any car, but getting them a high performance car is tempting fate.