While no charges have yet been filed against 17-year-old Joseph Beer — Richmond Hill’s sole survivor in the crash that killed his four passengers during a late night drive last Monday on the Southern State Parkway — supporters of Beer have created an online petition to entirely dismiss the case.
Investigators are currently running toxicology reports on Beer’s blood to determine if any alcohol or drugs were present in his system during the time of the crash. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice confirmed that charges have still not been filed against Beer.
Rice has told reporters that it’s still too soon to say whether her office will file charges, as it could take weeks for investigators to get back Beer’s toxicology reports.
The crash left Beer’s 2012 Subarea Impreza split in two, and four of his friends dead. It happened on Monday, October 8th around 4 a.m. on the westbound Southern State Parkway.
According to reports, Beer had lost control of his car as he came upon a winding stretch of road near exit 18 that’s notorious for accidents. Beer, who was driving with a learner’s permit, veered across two lanes, riding off the road and into the trees.
Beer’s high school friends — Neal Rajapa, 17, Peter Kanhai, 18, Christopher Khan, 18, all of South Ozone Park, and Darian Ramnarine, 18, of Jamaica — were ejected from the car and killed instantly. According to officials, Beer was the only person in the car wearing his seatbelt.
Khan’s funeral service was held last Wednesday in South Ozone Park, where hundreds of relatives and friends mourned the loss of this young man. Services were also held for Ramnarine in the same funeral home that evening.
Beer was released from Winthrop University Hospital the night following the crash.
Joseph Beer, the driver and lone survivor of a crash that killed his four friends (left), who are pictured in this flyer posted on one of their Facebook pages announcing a candle light vigil. Facebook Photo.
In a report from The New York Post, authorities suspected Beer may have been high at the time of his crash. Nassau County DA Rice said that that she will not comment on any allegations until her office knows for certain what happened that night.
Refusing to believe the crash was anything but a tragic accident, friends of Beer have come to his defense with an online petition. As of deadline, the petition had gained 2,576 supporters.
“Joseph may have been an inexperienced driver but he was not intentionally trying to hurt anyone,” the petition reads. “I’m asking that you sign this petition so that his case may be dismissed. Joseph has suffered not only physical injuries, but mental and emotional ones that cannot be healed. We’re not looking for a way to keep him out of jail. The burden he now carries is punishment enough.”
A host of comments supporting Beer also flowed onto the site.
Saied Mohammed, listed as from Queens, claimed to be a close friend of Beer in his comment.
“He had no intentions of killing anyone. It was not murder nor was it manslaughter because he could have died as well. It’s unfair that people try to take their frustration out on the only person that survived.”
Other comments echoed that sentiment.
Nicholas Lall, of Richmond Hill, wrote, “He’s already suffering as is. He has to live with this tragedy on his chest for the rest of his life…He’s just a kid, just like many of us out here.”
Memorial Facebook pages have also been created for victims Peter Kanhai and Darian Ramnarine.
On the “R.I.P. Kanhai” page, which currently has 3,062 likes, friends and family left hundreds of memorial comments.
“You’ll never be gone or forgotten by me, the family, and others! I Miss you tons and tons! You’re a great cousin,” read one comment from Selina Kanhai.
A similar page also sprung up for another victim in the crash, Darian Ramnarine. It featured several pictures of Ramnarine at his prom. Friends and family also wrote hundreds of comments, with over 2,000 people liking the page.
According to the memorial Facebook pages, there will be a candle light vigil for all the victims on Sunday October 21from 5:30-8p.m. in Smokey Oval Park, on 125th Street and Atlantic Avenue.
By Ryan Lavis
