Sophia D’Antoine, a 30-year-old cybersecurity research firm founder, tragically lost her life after being struck by a speeding SUV on the Upper East Side. The incident occurred as she was crossing York Avenue at East 87th Street around 9:30 p.m. on April 2. The Land Rover that hit D’Antoine then collided head-on with a taxi and a parked vehicle, resulting in a devastating crash.
D’Antoine, who lived half a block away from the accident site, founded Margin Research, a boutique NYC-based research firm, in 2018. Described as the “Hacker in Residence” at NYU, she was a respected figure in the cybersecurity community. Despite being rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center in critical condition, she succumbed to her injuries after several days of fighting for her life.
The driver of the Land Rover, a 72-year-old man, remained on the scene following the crash. The taxi driver, age 62, was taken to New York City Health + Hospitals Elmhurst in stable condition. Both vehicles involved in the incident had a history of speeding violations in school zones, raising questions about the safety of the drivers and the vehicles involved in the accident.
The NYPD has not made any arrests in the case, and the investigation is ongoing. It remains unclear if the rainy weather at the time of the crash played a factor in the tragic incident. The community mourns the loss of Sophia D’Antoine, a talented and vibrant young woman who dedicated her life to cybersecurity research and making the internet a safer place for all. Her death serves as a reminder of the dangers of reckless driving and the importance of road safety for all individuals.
