• 16
  • November
    2011

A tragic accident claimed the life of a young mother last month and left her brother - champion boxer Pedro Luis Sosa - in a coma. The two fell 75 feet after they were thrown from an overpass during a chain-reaction Bronx auto accident.

The accident occurred on the Cross Bronx Expressway on the evening of Sunday, October 30. At the time, temperatures were close to freezing and the overpass was covered in black ice.

Mr. Sosa and his sister Jennifer were caught up in a multi-vehicle accident that started after some drivers began to hit their brakes to "rubberneck" at another accident. According to one witness, vehicles began spinning "like tops" and colliding into one another. When the Sosas got out of their vehicle to survey the damage, they were hit by a car and knocked off the overpass.

Mr. Sosa was still unconscious as of November 2, but doctors reported that he did not suffer brain damage or spinal cord injury. It is unclear whether Mr. Sosa will be able to resume his promising boxing career.

Winter Driving Demands Extra Caution

The accident stands as an unfortunate reminder to New Yorkers of the need to follow winter driving safety precautions. Cold weather often leads to treacherous conditions, and roads can go from safe to slippery in a moment's notice.

Drivers can help reduce the risk of a car accident by adhering to the following safety tips:

  • Drive slowly - it takes longer to stop when the roads are slippery, and you can't be sure you'll be able to control your vehicle if you need to stop suddenly.
  • Use your brakes cautiously and instead try to slow down by decelerating. This will help to avoid spin-outs.
  • Be extra careful on bridges and overpasses as these areas tend to freeze first.
  • If possible, stay in your vehicle after a crash. You'll be safer and warmer inside.

Auto accidents can be devastating, especially in colder weather when treacherous conditions can materialize in a matter of minutes. Be safe this winter and drive carefully.

Source: New York Daily News, "Black Ice Triggers Deadly Crash on Cross Bronx Expressway; Two Siblings Fall 75 Feet From Overpass, Killing One," Jennifer H. Cunningham, Oct. 20, 2011.