Sujey Bernabel, 37, Died When Her Car Unexpectedly Rolled Backwards, Pinning Her Against a Second Vehicle in Lawrence
LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS (October 14, 2025) – A 37-year-old mother identified as Sujey Bernabel has tragically died in a Lawrence car accident while checking on her baby.
Lawrence police officials are saying that the accident took place Thursday evening on October 9. Sujey Bernabel parked her 2015 Honda CR-V along Currier Street.
She parked and exited her vehicle to tend to her infant in the backseat. As she walked behind the vehicle, it began rolling backwards and pinned her against a second car.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. She was transported to Lawrence General Hospital in critical condition.
Despite life-saving measures, Sujey Bernabel died at the hospital. It remains unclear if any type of defect with the Honda CRV may have contributed to the accident.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Product Liability for Accidents Involving Defective Vehicles
Car manufacturers have a legal obligation to create vehicles that are reasonably safe and function as intended. They can be liable for any design defects that contribute to an accident. This includes situations where a car unexpectedly rolls backwards and strikes the driver or a bystander. Accidents like this should never happen after a vehicle has been placed in park. There are several types of mechanical failures or issues that could cause a vehicle to roll after it has been placed in park.
- Transmission Failures: The transmission on a vehicle may have failed to fully engage, thereby allowing it to roll unintentionally.
- Parking Brake Failure: It is also possible that the parking brake could have malfunctioned and failed to hold a vehicle stationary.
- Brake System Failures: Any type of issue with a vehicle’s brake system could lead to unintentional movement when it’s parked. In particular, fluid leaks can reduce brake effectiveness.
- Electronic Control System Failures: Modern cars depend on electronic control units (ECUs) to perform a variety of tasks. Any malfunction with these systems may lead to unintentional movement.
A number of car manufacturers have faced lawsuits after customers were injured or killed by vehicles that continued moving while parked. Consider, for example, Victor Yelchin, et al. v. FCA US LLC, et al.. Anton Yelchin was a movie star known for his roles in Alpha Dog and Star Trek. He was killed after becoming pinned by his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. His parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the accident was the result of a defective gear shifter that allowed for unintentional rolling.
Steps to Take After Any Accident With a Defective Vehicle
Accidents involving vehicles that rollaway after being parked may seem like freak occurrences, but these incidents remain far too common. According to one report by NBC Washington, “Families across the country are raising safety questions involving deadly vehicle rollaway accidents that kill nearly 150 people every year.” It is critical that certain steps are taken after any accident involving a vehicle that unintentionally rolled away and injured or killed someone.
- Medical Records: All medical records related to the incident should be collected and preserved.
- Evidence Preservation: The vehicle involved in the accident should be stored in a safe location. It is critical evidence that can help identify the potential cause of the accident.
- Recall Notice: It should be determined if the vehicle involved was on any recall list or had known safety issues.
Several automakers have faced lawsuits alleging that vehicle defects led to rollaway accidents. In particular, Honda has faced a class action lawsuit, which alleged that 2016-2018 Honda Civics with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) and electronic parking brakes (EPBs) could occasionally rollaway while parked. It is important to consider the possibility that vehicle defects may have contributed to an accident. The family members of any victim who died due to a defective vehicle may be able to seek some measure of transparency and accountability through a civil action.
Investigating Massachusetts Rollaway Car Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Sujey Bernabel. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. Did a defect with the gear shifter in this vehicle contribute to it rolling away? Is Honda aware of other CR-V SUVs with similar problems? Were there any electronic malfunctions that could have contributed to a brake system failure?
Do you need more information about a Massachusetts rollaway car accident? Our team of accident investigators is here for you. We are well versed in all of the potential defects and problems that may have caused a rollaway accident. We can investigate the facts of your case free of cost and get you the information that you’re looking for. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular accident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (617) 870-0907.