Queens, New York — A 23-year-old recent college graduate was killed in a devastating crash on the Grand Central Parkway early Sunday morning, as she and several others were traveling home from a friend’s birthday celebration.
Arrianna Arregui, a recent Brooklyn College graduate, was riding in the backseat of a gray Honda Accord when the driver, 34-year-old Anthony Dickson, lost control of the vehicle near the Steinway overpass shortly after 4 a.m. Sunday, according to police.
The crash ended with the vehicle overturning and Arregui suffering fatal injuries.
Honda Crashes Into Curb and Overturns
According to police, the Honda’s left rear wheel struck the curb line dividing the highway before the vehicle began skidding sideways.
The car then overturned and struck a light pole.
Arregui suffered severe head and body trauma in the crash. She was transported to Elmhurst Hospital Center, where authorities said she was pronounced dead.
She had graduated from Brooklyn College earlier this year with a bachelor’s degree in biology, according to college records. For her family, the loss came just as she was beginning a new chapter after completing college.
“That’s my daughter,” Arregui’s grief-stricken father, Johnny Arregui, told the New York Daily News. “I can’t believe my daughter flew out the window.
“There was five people in the car,” he added. “She was in the backseat in the middle.”
Driver Faces Vehicular Manslaughter Charge
Dickson was arrested following the crash and charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving while ability impaired, police said.
Indiana Double Murder Case Reopened: Suspect Arrested Two Decades After Boy and Stepmom Were Killed
Authorities did not immediately confirm whether the impairment involved alcohol, drugs or another substance.
The driver was traveling with four passengers when the crash occurred. Three other women in the vehicle, ages 23, 24 and 32, either escaped injury or suffered minor injuries, according to police.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation as authorities work to determine what led Dickson to lose control of the vehicle.
Group Was Returning From Birthday Party
One of the surviving passengers said the group, all of whom were from Brooklyn, had been returning home from a friend’s birthday party when the crash occurred.
The woman, who identified herself as Dickson’s cousin, described Arregui as someone who was deeply connected to the people in the vehicle.
“Arianna was like family to us,” the woman told. “The whole car was family. It’s just unfortunate.” The cousin said Arregui had been part of her life for as long as she could remember.
“She’s been in my life my whole entire life,” she added. “It’s a tremendous loss for everyone … She just graduated college. She just got a haircut.”
The comments reflected the shock surrounding the young woman’s death, particularly as her family and friends had recently celebrated her graduation.
A Young Life Cut Short After Graduation
Arregui’s death came only months after she earned her biology degree from Brooklyn College. At 23 years old, she had recently completed an important milestone and was beginning what should have been the next stage of her life.
Instead, her family is now mourning her after a crash that happened during the early morning hours while she was returning from a birthday celebration.
The crash also left several others in the vehicle dealing with the aftermath of a deadly collision. Dickson’s arraignment was pending Monday, according to authorities.
As the investigation continues, Arregui’s family and friends are left remembering a young woman whose life ended only months after she graduated from college.
Arrianna Arregui had just earned her college degree and was only 23 years old. Share your thoughts and condolences for her family and loved ones in the comments below.
