Fatal parkway crash driver's blood to be tested - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

Fatal parkway crash driver's blood to be tested

Joseph Beer, 17, of Richmond Hill, Queens, is reportedly out of the hospital, but there was no answer at his home.

He was the driver of a Subaru that crashed on the Southern State Parkway in Nassau County early Monday, killing four of his friends.

Beer was not fully licensed; he only has a learner permit, according to State Police. Under state law, he should not have been driving at that hour and should not have had so many passengers under the age of 21.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said Beer's blood was sent to a lab to be screened for alcohol and drugs. She said the results may not be available for some time.

Sources have told Fox 5 News that Beer may have smoked marijuana before getting behind the wheel.

Authorities are also taking a close look at what's left of the 2012 Subaru Impreza.

"My office has been in contact with experts from Subaru to determine if the vehicle had a black box from which data about the vehicles speed can be downloaded," Rice said.

In the meantime, Rice said questions about possible criminal charges against Beer "are premature at this point" because authorities do not have enough information about the crash.

"I am well aware that there is a great deal of speculation about the cause of this tragedy but we simple do not know the precise factors that led to crash," she said.

With MyFoxNY.com staff