Brother of pregnant woman, 23, killed in Staten Island crash pays tribute to the 'perfect' mom-to-be

Publish date: 2024-07-04

The brother of a pregnant 23-year-old who died in a high sped car crash in Staten Island has said how excited his sister was to become a mother.

Adriana Sylmetaj was killed after her allegedly drunk boyfriend, Adem Nikeziq, 30, crashed a Dodge Challenger while driving at around 100mph in the early hours of Sunday morning.

'She was excited when she learned she was going to be a mother. It was something new to her. She couldn't wait to see the baby born,' her brother, Al Sylmetaj, told the New York Daily News.

'They were thinking on names but I don't think they came to any decision,' he added. 'They were planning on a baby shower.'

The brother of Adriana Sylmetaj, 23, who died alongside her unborn daughter in a high sped car crash in Staten Island has spoken of his sister's excitement over her pregnancy

The brother of Adriana Sylmetaj, 23, who died alongside her unborn daughter in a high sped car crash in Staten Island has spoken of his sister's excitement over her pregnancy

Nikeziq was allegedly drunk when he crashed the car while travelling at more than 100 mph

Nikeziq was allegedly drunk when he crashed the car while travelling at more than 100 mph

Sylmetaj and Nikesiq were expecting a daughter in April.

Police have confirmed that Nikesiq was in hospital on Sunday. His arraignment at Staten Island Criminal Court is due to happen on Monday January 30, as he is no longer hospitalized, a clerk for the court said.

He was charged with manslaughter, negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and driving while intoxicated, among other things, an NYPD spokesperson said. 

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Nikeziq has a checkered driving history, including a 2017 arrest for drunken driving and driving with a suspended license, police sources told the Daily News. In 2019 he was also arrested for driving with a suspended license and resisting arrest.

Sylmetaj's brother said Nikeziq seemed untrustworthy and was often drunk after his father past away.

'I had this feeling the outcome was going to be this way,' Al said. 'Every time he presented himself, he was under the influence - not that he was uncontrollable, but how he articulated himself.'

'He would always ask if I wanted to go have a drink,' he said. 'My birthday just passed and he was inviting me to go out to have a drink but I just said no thank you.'

Sylmetaj and Nikesiq, who was often drunk, her brother says, were expecting a daughter in April

Sylmetaj and Nikesiq, who was often drunk, her brother says, were expecting a daughter in April

Images emerged of the mangled car after the pregnant woman was killed

Images emerged of the mangled car after the pregnant woman was killed

Adriana Sylmetaj was ejected from the car when it collided with a utility pole at around 5am on Sunday morning, causing the vehicle to break into three parts

Adriana Sylmetaj was ejected from the car when it collided with a utility pole at around 5am on Sunday morning, causing the vehicle to break into three parts

Adriana Sylmetaj was ejected from the car when it collided with a utility pole at around 5am on Sunday morning, causing the vehicle to break into three parts.

The Albanian couple were traveling southbound on Hylan Boulevard in New Dorp at 4.44am when Nikesiq lost control. The vehicle hit a barrier wall before spinning out and crashing into a wooden utility pole, police said.

It was reported that the severity of the impact caused Sylmetaj to be ejected from the car and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Nikeziq, a resident of the borough, was taken to the Staten Island University North Hospital after police noticed he was drunk, the spokesman said.

In a tribute posted to Sylmetaj online, Nikeziq was described as 'a shame to the Albanian community'.

'He's going away for the rest of his life and that's still not good enough for that piece of s**t,' one grieving relative of Sylmetaj told the Post outside her home on Sunday.

'They couldn't save the baby,' he said. 'We're never going to be ok. None of us. We've experienced a terrible tragedy.'

'I don't understand how the [utility] pole is still standing,' Mario Basso, 31, owner of H20 Auto Spa near the site of the crash told The Post. 'It was hit so hard.'

The severity of the impact caused Sylmetaj to be ejected from the car. She was pronounced dead at the scene

The severity of the impact caused Sylmetaj to be ejected from the car. She was pronounced dead at the scene

The scene in the aftermath of the fatal crash, The collationed happened as the couple was traveling at more than 100 mph

The scene in the aftermath of the fatal crash, The collationed happened as the couple was traveling at more than 100 mph 

A tire is seen removed from the vehicle in the aftermath

A tire is seen removed from the vehicle in the aftermath

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