QUEENS, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Friday that Semone Douglass faces charges in connection to a fatal high-speed collision on the Van Wyck Expressway.
Douglass, a 30-year-old from Jamaica, Queens, was arraigned on charges of manslaughter, assault, and leaving the scene of the accident.
The incident occurred early morning on Sunday, August 1, 2021. Douglass, who was driving a 2021 BMW X6 at approximately 132 mph, hit a 2015 Nissan Altima. The collision resulted in the death of the Nissan’s rear passenger, Blanche Olmo, 77, and serious injuries to the driver, Gabriel Alban, 40.
Following the crash, first responders observed Douglass in the driver’s seat of the BMW and subsequently in a Mercedes Benz that arrived at the scene.
She was later seen fleeing the scene on foot. DNA evidence collected from the BMW’s airbag has been linked to Douglass. She is scheduled to appear in court on August 15 and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.