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Mount Vernon resident Ramel Douglas was arraigned in Westchester County Court this week in relation to his role in the crash that took the life of New Rochelle native Jyrel Daniel in June 2016.
Daniel had come home from college for the summer when he was in a car on June 21 with his friends that was struck by a driver in a BMW going 75 mph in a posted 25 mph zone. First responders had to utilize the Jaws of Life to remove Daniel from the vehicle, putting him in a coma for six months and leaving him with a traumatic brain injury.
The driver of the BMW, Douglas, was arrested when it was determined that he was speeding when he struck the other car. The indictment reads that Douglas, “with criminal negligence,” caused the death of another person, according to Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr.
Following the crash, Daniel, a New Rochelle High School graduate, experienced brain swelling, constant seizures, muscle contracture and was left completely bedridden. Doctors gave him a 3 percent chance to survive the crash, and a portion of his skull was removed, leaving him with a titanium mesh to protect his brain. He died in March following a near two-year battle.
Douglas, 27, has been charged with criminally negligent homicide, assault and reckless driving. He remains released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 16.
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