People v. Lewis

OPINION OF THE COURT

George B. Daniels, J.

The novel question to be decided in this case is whether a passenger involved in an automobile accident can be held criminally liable as a principal or accessory for leaving the scene of an accident when he drives the operator away from the site of the collision.

The defendant, Sherman Lewis, is charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, in violation of Vehicle and Traffic Law § 600 (2) (a). It is alleged in the accusatory instrument that an unapprehended female was driving an automobile, in which the defendant was a passenger,…