Passenger Dies From Injuries In Drunken Murray Hill Crash, Police Say

MURRAY HILL, NY — A passenger in a drunken car crash in Murray Hill last month has died from his injuries, and police have charged the driver in the crash with vehicular assault, according to authorities.

Ryota Funakoshi died from his injuries, which included severe head trauma, on July 25, about six days after the crash, police said on Monday. Funakoshi was riding in the car that night with Antonios Sikolas, who has since been charged with vehicular assault, police said. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

According to the police account, Sikolas was driving early in the morning on July 19 with Funakoshi in the passenger seat. While the two were traveling north on Third Avenue, their car collided with a truck as it crossed 34th Street, going east, police said. The men's car became wedged under the truck, and both vehicles were propelled east onto 34th Street, where the car and the truck wedged together smashed into a third vehicle, according to the NYPD.

Funakoshi, 37, was transported to the hospital in critical condition. He died on July 25, police said.

Sikolas, 25, was also transported to the hospital for treatment. He has since been charged with vehicular assault and driving under the influence. Patch was not immediately able to contact his attorney on Tuesday morning.

Two men, one a driver in the truck and one who was seated in the third car, with both treated for minor injuries.

Lead image via Shutterstock.