A Bronx woman has been indicted on charges of second-degree manslaughter and other related offenses after a hit-and-run crash in 2022 that resulted in the death of a livery cab driver. The indictment was confirmed by Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, as reported by the District Attorney's Office.
Imani Williams, 26, from the Bronx, was arraigned on Thursday, facing charges that also include Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Criminally Negligent Homicide, and Reckless Driving, according to information provided by the DA's office. Despite the People requesting bail set at various amounts, totaling $300,000 in different formats, Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas granted Williams supervised release with electronic monitoring. Her next court appearance is scheduled for October 29, 2025.
Details of the crash reveal that Williams was allegedly driving at a speed of 77 miles-per-hour, almost three times the limit, moments before her SUV collided with a livery cab at the intersection of Webster Avenue and East 168th Street, using a bus lane to pass another vehicle. After the impact, Williams reportedly fled the scene without aiding the stricken cab driver, Robert Godwin, 45, of Queens, or waiting for first responders, who pronounced Godwin dead upon his arrival at the hospital.
"This defendant was allegedly driving three times the speed limit when her SUV slammed into a livery cab, and she fled the scene without checking on the driver’s condition or waiting for first responders to arrive" Clark stated, calling William's alleged actions 'callous'. It took three years of investigation and DNA analysis to link Williams to the crash definitively, culminating in her DNA being found on the driver's side airbag, despite the presence of another person in the vehicle at the time.
The prosecution team is led by Major Case Assistant District Attorney Rachel Taverna, with a number of overseers including Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Kimelman, Michelle Villaverde, Aaron Kaplan, James Brennan, and Theresa Gottlieb, per the DA's office. NYPD Detectives Gregory Gianacopulos, Karl Zarek, and Ramon Pina from the Collision Investigation Squad of Highway 1, were also acknowledged for their efforts in this intricate investigation.
