Speeding and Overloaded SUV Overturns, Kills One

A Ford Explorer filled with eight people crashed and flipped over early Sunday morning. One of the passengers, 15 year old Rosemary Tavares, was partially ejected and crushed by the SUV. Police believe 22 year old Martin Ramirez was driving at a speed of at least 68 MPH - well over the 30 MPH speed limit for the area. Ramirez lost control when trying to make a left turn off Amsterdam Avenue onto West 148th Street in Manhattan (and the weight of the passengers didn't help) and hit three parked cars before overturning.

The Post reports that Tavares, who not wearing a seatbelt, called her boyfriend during the car ride, saying, "This guy is driving so crazy. He almost crashed!" The other passengers' injuries ranged from cuts to broken bones The Times notes that one boy was sitting in the cargo section and a girl was sitting on someone's lap.

Ramirez passed a Breathalyzer; he was given three summonses for speeding, driving an overcrowded car (the Explorer holds five), and not wearing a seatbelt.

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By Jen Chung in News on October 30, 2006 8:41 AM

Comments [rss]

surfer

Makes you wonder how many other close calls caused by this driver since he got his license.

grimreap

My response wasn't a quiz on how many seats there are in an Explorer. There is a third row by the way. Depending on your vehicle. Not that it matters

The crazy bastard could have been driving a Pinto.

3rd row bench seat

XLS - none

XLT - optional

Eddie Bauer - optional

Limited - optional

smitty

there is no third row in an explorer - the extra three were probably just sitting in the cargo area.

grimreap

8 people! ok so you have 2 in the front, 3 (if your lucky in the backseat)..and three in the third row?

70 in a 30?

An SUV is not a drag racing vehicle

He was given three summonses...BIG DEAL!