A Bangladeshi student and another individual were killed in a car accident while fleeing in a ‘stolen’ vehicle in the Buffalo area of New York. Another person was injured in the incident. The deceased Bangladeshi student, Sunny Dewan (19), was studying Computer Science at the University at Buffalo and lived in the Hazelwood area.
According to police sources, the incident occurred on Friday morning on State Route 20. While fleeing at high speed after ignoring a stop order from a patrol officer, the car Sunny was driving collided with another vehicle coming from the opposite direction.
After the collision, Sunny’s car caught fire and fell into a roadside ditch. The Warsaw Police reported that with the help of bystanders, Sunny Dewan was rescued from the burning car and taken to Wyoming County Community Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The passenger of the other vehicle, Daniel Abbott (48), a resident of Lancaster, died on the spot. The driver, James Stabelwaski (48), is currently undergoing treatment at Erie County Hospital.
Police also stated that the car Sunny was driving had been reported stolen from Nassau County in Long Island, New York City. Sunny Dewan was the only son of Faruq Ahmed, a resident of Parkchester in the Bronx, New York City. He was returning to campus after spending time with his family when the accident occurred.
Sunny’s first funeral prayer (Janazah) was held on Sunday at the Muslim Center on Fillmore Avenue in Buffalo. He was buried at a local cemetery after a second Janazah the following morning.
Although police claim that Sunny was driving a ‘stolen’ car, his family and loved ones refuse to accept this allegation.
When contacted, Warsaw Police said they could not disclose any further details until the investigation is complete. New York State Attorney General Letitia James has ordered an investigation into the incident.