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Victims Hit by Stolen Truck Sue Driver for Leaving Keys in Ignition

By James Fanelli | October 10, 2014 5:02pm | Updated on October 13, 2014 8:42am
 A pedestrian and a city bus passenger who were injured when the boozed-up nephew of model Tyson Beckford allegedly crashed a stolen truck are suing the delivery man for leaving his vehicle idling with keys in the ignitition.
Victims of Stolen Truck Crash Sue Tyson Beckford's Nephew and Delivery Man
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GREENWICH VILLAGE — A pedestrian and a city bus passenger who were injured when model Tyson Beckford's boozed-up nephew allegedly hit them with a stolen delivery truck are blaming the driver for leaving his vehicle idling with the keys in the ignition as he made his drop-offs, a new lawsuit charges.

Crash victims Raphael Curet and Salvatore Polizzi are suing delivery man Vincent Haluck, claiming that by leaving his truck's engine running he made "it an easy target for theft and joyriding."

The lawsuit claims during the early hours of Feb. 12, Beckford's nephew, Domonic Whilby, partied at 1Oak, "during which time he became increasingly intoxicated and his behavior became increasingly loutish." Whilby was eventually booted from the West 17th Street club, and spotted Haluck's idling Isuzu delivery truck parked on the street as Haluck made deliveries, according to the lawsuit.

Whilby hopped behind the wheel around 5:30 a.m. on Feb. 12, and drove the vehicle four blocks south on Seventh Avenue before slamming into an MTA bus at 14th Street, according to police and the lawsuit.

"Whilby stole the Isuzu, which he was able to do, even in his state of severe intoxication, because the keys were in the truck and the engine was running," the lawsuit says.

Curet, a passenger on the bus, was severely injured during the crash. Polizzi was injured while standing at the sidewalk at the intersection, according to the lawsuit.

The crash also killed veteran bus driver William Pena, 49, and injured four people, according to police., the lawsuit said.

Manhattan prosecutors charged Whilby with murder, manslaughter, grand larceny and assault with intent to injure. He is currently being held on Rikers Island without bail.

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Civil Supreme Court on Sept. 30, names Whilby, along with Haluck's employer, Exclusive Trucking, and Chelsea night club 1Oak, where police say Whilby downed drinks before the crash.

Exclusive Trucking and 1Oak did not respond to requests for comment.

Matthew Sakkas, the lawyer for Curet and Polizzi, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.