A FedEx truck driver is accused of causing a crash that killed an ex Long Island track star and his two children. 30-year-old Santos Valentin, reportedly checked his phone 25 times before the accident. He crashed into a Honda Civic with Donnell Hickson, 43, his son Decir, 18, and his daughter, Kyla, 11. The impact pushed both vehicles off the road, with the truck ending up on top of the car, reports the New York Post. According to WKBN, the incident occurred on July 20, 2024.
Hickson and his two children were sadly, declared dead at the scene. Valentin, who survived, went to the hospital. He surrendered on Thursday after being charged with three felony counts of vehicle homicide. Prosecutors say he was utilizing his phone around the time of the crash.
The FedEx driver, not wearing a seatbelt, claimed the Civic appeared suddenly during the crash while he was driving 65 to 75 mph. However, dash cam footage showed he was using his phone just before the accident.
Valentin checked his phone 25 times and looked at the road only 20 times in 48 seconds, tapping and swiping on the screen, per Newsday. Moments before the crash, the Honda switched lanes and stopped suddenly, but investigators don’t know why. Valentin posted $300,000 bail after being held behind bars.
Hickson was an All-American triple jumper at York College and competed in the 2005 NCAA Championships. His son, Decir, was preparing for college before the crash.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
