Teen Dies As Result of Brush Avenue Crash

Shaadieq Hicks, a passenger in a van that rolled over on Brush Avenue off Bruckner Boulevard earlier this month, passed away at Jacobi Medical Center on Monday, April 18.

The cause of death was listed as blunt impact of the head. Hicks, 16, was thrown through the van’s windshield when its driver, Alex Seeraj, lost control of the speeding minivan.

Seeraj was charged with driving without a license and unauthorized use of a vehicle following the crash.

The Bronx District Attorney’s office said that as of Tuesday, April 26, no additional charges had been brought against Seeraj.

Hicks and a second passenger in the van had been stopped by police earlier in the night of the crash for suspicion of doing graffiti, but both were let go due to lack of evidence.

Nelson Cruz of Mosholu Parkway was Hicks’ teammate on a dance team called Brotherhood. They used to battle citywide dance teams at YMCAs and recreation centers and spent their Saturday nights at the YMCA on 135th Street in Harlem.

Cruz, 18, memorialized Hicks by posting a YouTube video of his friend’s best dance moves.

“He was real laid back, real chill, always had a smile on his face, never started trouble,” Cruz said. “All he cared about was dancing.”

Cruz said he was not familiar with the other two people in the car the night of the crash, and that he knew Hicks for a little over two years, mainly through dancing.

“Me and him were close,” Cruz said. “We were real close so hearing about his death is a shock. I know people who were close with him, everyone is just shocked. He died too early. He was just a young kid.”

Hicks attended Adlai Stevenson High School and lived in the Castle Hill area.

A service for Hicks took place on Friday, April 22 at Ortiz Funeral Home on Westchester Avenue.