Four killed in Bronx SUV crash

(New York - WABC, September 1, 2007) (WABC) -- Four people died when their sport utility vehicle smashed into a light pole in the Bronx. The SUV then flipped over and skidded down the street.

The crash was so bad, it left witnesses in shock.

It happened about 4 a.m. Saturday morning at the intersection of East Tremont and Commonwealth Avenues.

Eyewitness News reporter Stacey Sager has more from West Farms section of the Bronx.

The driver, Maymond Baba, 31, of Manhattan, his passenger Luis Matias, 30, of the Bronx, a 26-year-old woman and another male passenger died after the 4 a.m. wreck on East Tremont Avenue, which peeled back the vehicle's roof and left shredded chunks of red metal scattered along the roadway, police said.

His mother, his sister and his girlfriend broke down on East Tremont Avenue. The site of an accident was so horrific. It literally looked like a war zone just hours earlier.

Witnesses tell Eyewitness News Maymond Baba's SUV burst open as it smashed into a light pole, then flew into the air. The crash killed Mr. Baba and his three passengers.

"The car was already in the air when they were flying out of the car," said witness Roger Crawford. "Where you see them laying there, that's where they landed."

"It was at least 90 or 95 miles per hour. I have never seen something like that to be real. It is sad. Bodies were all over the floor," said eyewitness Juju Carrion. "It is crazy."

Maymond Baba actually lived in Bushkill, Pennsylvania, almost tow hours away. His family from Manhattan told Eyewitness News, he spent much of his time on the roads commuting to his job as a repair worker for Con Edison in the Bronx.

"He liked working. He was 31-years-old," said victim's grandmother Maria Bonella. "He worked very hard."

"That was his life - His job and his kids. He very was responsible for his kids," said victim's uncle David Santiago. "That's all he cared about."

But they say Friday night Baba and a co-worker at ConEd, 30-year-old Luis Matias, went out with two others as fate would have it. Baba's girlfriend, Melanie, stayed home.

The identity of the other two victims was not immediately released pending notification of their families. The screech of steel as the SUV scraped along the street roused neighbors as police and medical personnel rushed to the scene.

"He was a great guy, really great guy," said driver's girlfriend Melanie. "I spoke to him last night, around 12:30 a.m. at night"

Witnesses telling Eyewitness News that speed was definitely a factor here.

"Speeding up this way, it just happened so fast," said witness Kico Medina. "Just, wipe out."

Local residents complain about speeding problem.

"Cars are going fast over 90," said Bronx resident Steven Torres.

But an outcome, they've just never seen before.

"From all the time I been living here, I never seen it," said Roger.

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