Bronx Driver Arrested for Manslaughter in 2022 Hit-and-Run Death of Taxi Driver

A woman has been arrested and is facing manslaughter charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident that occurred in the Bronx over two years ago. Imani Williams, 26, was taken into custody on Thursday and is accused of driving at excessive speeds and disregarding traffic signals during the early morning hours of June 5, 2022. The crash resulted in the death of Robert Godwin, a 45-year-old livery cab driver.

According to police reports, Williams was allegedly traveling at 77 mph in a 25 mph zone while driving a Chevrolet Traverse SUV in a bus lane on Webster Avenue. She reportedly failed to stop at a red light at East 168th Street, colliding with Godwin’s Toyota Camry, which had the right of way. The force of the impact pushed Godwin’s vehicle approximately 70 feet, causing both cars to crash into a row of parked vehicles.

After the collision, witnesses reported that Williams managed to exit her vehicle and fled the scene on foot, leaving Godwin behind. Emergency responders rushed Godwin to Lincoln Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. At the time of the incident, Godwin was concluding his night shift. Friends and family described him as a sociable individual who enjoyed engaging with his passengers, often sharing stories from his experiences as a driver.

The investigation into the crash was prolonged, but detectives from the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad ultimately recovered DNA from the driver’s side seat of the abandoned SUV. This DNA was linked to Williams, who has a prior criminal record. Both of the passengers in her vehicle at the time of the incident also fled the scene, one of whom was reportedly seen exhibiting signs of distress after the accident.

Williams voluntarily turned herself in at the 44th Precinct stationhouse, where she was charged with multiple offenses, including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving. The SUV she was driving was owned by a third party and had a documented history of traffic violations, including eight parking tickets and several for speeding in school zones.

Williams is expected to be arraigned in Bronx Criminal Court shortly.

This tragic incident underscores the ongoing issue of reckless driving and its dire consequences, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws to prevent future tragedies on the streets.