Long Island Teen Charged with Fatal Wrong-Way Crash Before Wedding Day
A teenager from Long Island faces serious charges following a deadly crash on the Henry Hudson Parkway that claimed the life of a man just a day shy of his wedding. Authorities allege that 17-year-old Jimmy Connors was under the influence and eluding an off-duty NYPD officer when the incident occurred.
Before the tragic collision on August 24, Connors reportedly spent the evening consuming alcohol at the Nebula nightclub located on West 41st Street. A lawsuit indicates that staff continued to serve him drinks despite him appearing “clearly intoxicated” prior to the accident.
After leaving the venue, Connors allegedly drove a white Chevy Silverado with Ontario license plates, colliding with another vehicle, which prompted off-duty officer Boubacar Barry, who witnessed the incident, to follow Connors rather than notifying emergency services, as documented in the filing at Manhattan Supreme Court.
In a harrowing turn of events, both vehicles went southward in the parkway’s northbound lanes, leading to a head-on crash with a Dodge Challenger driven by 38-year-old Kirk Walker and his cousin, Rob McLaurin, as confirmed by authorities. Walker was on the brink of marrying his fiancée when the crash occurred.
Walker and McLaurin were returning from Walker’s bachelor party, driving near West 154th Street at around 2:20 a.m. when disaster struck, according to the lawsuit filed by Walker’s fiancée, Shauntea Weaver.
Following the crash, Connors is said to have fled the scene, leaving his injured 21-year-old passenger behind, who attempted to escape but was apprehended only 30 feet away by law enforcement.
In a public appeal for justice, Mayor Eric Adams contributed $1,000 toward locating Connors.
The day after the crash, Connors was apprehended at the Canadian border, exhibiting signs of injury and without any form of identification. Customs officials used NYPD images to confirm his identity following his escape from the scene.
Upon his return to New York, Connors faced multiple charges, including second-degree murder and manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty.
Connors’ attorney, Jonathan Perez, previously stated that his client has medical conditions such as autism and epilepsy, alleging that he was influenced by another individual in the vehicle during the incident.
Since his arraignment, Connors has been held without bail, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
Walker, who was a father to three children and operated a rental car business, was preparing for a lavish wedding ceremony in New Jersey.
In a heartfelt statement, Weaver expressed her grief, saying, “Kirk was taken from me just as we were starting our new life together. He was the love of my life… Our lives will never be the same.”
As the administrator of Walker’s estate, Weaver argues in her legal filings that Barry acted in an official capacity during the chase, which she claims makes both the NYPD and the city liable, a point she asserts is not protected by emergency response laws.
Additionally, she contends that Nebula violated the state’s Dram Shop Act by allowing an underage or visibly intoxicated individual to consume alcohol, enabling actions that caused harm.
Weaver seeks unspecified damages for wrongful death, emotional distress, funeral expenses, and punitive damages.
As of now, neither the NYPD nor Nebula have commented publicly regarding the ongoing situation. Attempts to reach Connors and Barry for statements have not been successful.
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