Lyft Passenger Killed In Wrong-Way Crash On Belt Parkway
QUEENS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A man was killed when an alleged drunk driver going the wrong way crashed into the Lyft car he taking on the Belt Parkway.
Police said a silver Volkswagen, driven by 50-year-old Aleh Sheipak, was driving east in the westbound lanes when it collided with the Honda Accord around 2 a.m. Thursday near Bay 8th Street in Queens.
Gerald Obah, 27, was riding in the back of the Honda when he was killed.
"We are deeply saddened by the news of this tragic accident, and our thoughts are with all those affected and impacted by this loss," Lyft said in a statement. "We have reached out to the driver to extend our full support, and stand ready to assist law enforcement with an investigation."
Obah grew up in Maryland but graduated from Syracuse in 2012 and moved to New York City to work in digital marketing, CBS2's Clark Fouraker reported.
"He really enjoyed the work. He was really enjoying the arts, as well. He enjoyed dancing and everything else. And really, for me, looking back on his life and everything else, I just think that the world is poorer because of his loss," his brother told Fouraker. "He was someone who was very gregarious. He wanted to enjoy life in the best way he knew how. After being in Maryland so long, he was the first person actually to say, 'Hey, I want to get out, I want to go to New York City and really experience the big city life.'"
Sheipak was charged with driving while intoxicated, three counts of vehicular assault, and vehicular manslaughter.
