Sophia D’Antoine: NYC research firm founder dies days after being struck by a speeding SUV

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A young cybersecurity research firm founder has tragically lost her life after she spent three days fighting for her life after sustaining impact from a speeding SUV on the Upper East Side during last week’s rain showers, authorities have said. 

Sophia D’Antoine, 30, the founder of Margin Research, died on Friday, April 5, after being hit by a 2017 Land Rover SUV, about half a block from her apartment.

The horrifying crash occurred as D’Antoine was crossing York Avenue at East 87th Street around 9.30 pm on Tuesday, April 2. 

The Land Rover's driver also collided with a taxi

According to the authorities, the Land Rover, driven by a 72-year-old man, hit a taxi head-on after hitting the victim and sent the vehicle smashing into a parked, unoccupied 2022 Ford Explorer SUV. 

Where did Sophia D’Antoine live?

As per records,  D’Antoine lived on East 87th, about half a block from where the tragic accident unfolded.

She founded Margin Research, a boutique NYC-based research firm, in 2018, as per the company’s website.

Another website for a cyber security event that she previously attended, described D’Antoine as the “Hacker in Residence” at NYU.

Sophia D’Antoine attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) - a private university in Troy, New York, where she studied electrical engineering and computer science and graduated in 2015, per Daily Mail.

Sophia D’Antoine was in critical condition after the crash

Following the crash, D’Antoine was rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center and remained in critical condition for several days before succumbing to her injuries on Friday, April 5.

The 62-year-old taxi driver was taken to New York City Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in stable condition while the driver of the Land Rover remained on the scene.

The Land Rover was previously spotted speeding several times

According to traffic summons data reviewed by Upper East Site, the convertible luxury vehicle had been cited for speeding in a school zone five times in three years, all of which occurred around Queens.

The taxi that was involved had also been caught by traffic cameras speeding in a school zone 13 times in less than two years, the outlet reported.

As of now, it is not clear if the rainy weather had anything to do with the tragic accident. The New York Police Department (NYPD) has not arrested anyone in the case, though the investigation remains ongoing.