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The harrowing crash occurred on 210th Street, directly behind MS 74.
By Forum Staff
A 48-year-old Queens woman has been convicted at trial of manslaughter and assault for the deadly crash that killed Susanna Ha, 42, and her 10-year-old daughter Angelica Ung, who both died within hours of the crash and Ha’s eight-year-old daughter Michelle Ung who died three days later. Ha’s father, 74-year-old Young Ju Ha, who was driving the car, and her mother, Chung Ock Ha, 67, who was in the front passenger seat, were both severely injured.
Deborah C. Burns, 48, of 76th Street in the Jackson Heights was driving the vehicle that slammed into the victims’ car in Bayside, on July 1, 2015.
“A jury listened to all the evidence and found the defendant guilty of causing a deadly collision that claimed the life of a woman and her two children. This was a senseless tragedy that did not have to happen. The defendant’s actions caused immeasurable agony to the victims’ family. In a 25 mph school zone, the defendant drove recklessly and at a high rate of speed. This frightening crash would have been even more horrific if students had been present at the time.”
Following an eight-day trial, the jury found Burns guilty of three counts of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of second-degree assault.
She will be sentenced on June 15, 2017, at which time she faces up to 15 years in prison.
Trial records show Burns was speeding as she drove a 2006 Ford Explorer northbound on 210 Street (directly behind Middle School 74) when she crossed the double yellow line veering into oncoming traffic. The defendant’s vehicle struck a 2005 Toyota Camry that was being driven by 75-year-old Young Ju Ha.
Analysis of the Explorer’s crash data recorder (black box) indicated that Burns’ vehicle was traveling in excess of 60 miles an hour just seconds before impact with the victim’s vehicle. The speed limit in the school zone is 25 mph. As a result of being hit the Camry spun out of control and struck a tree. All three backseat passengers in the Camry were killed. Burns told police she had just dropped her children off at a basketball game and was circling the block in search of a parking spot. She stated she was driving 40 miles per hour and it was the other driver that crossed the double yellow line and that she became nervous and swerved into the rear side of the Camry as a result, but video surveillance of the collision showed the defendant driving at an unsafe speed and on the wrong side of the road.
