Skip to content

Status Report: Ninth Avenue Road Rage Case

As reader Omri noted in the comments on the calendar post, this week cyclist Ray Bengen and SUV driver Gus Gonzalez have separate dates in Manhattan Criminal Court. Bengen was charged with criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor, after getting knocked to the pavement and badly bruised while attempting to get around an SUV stopped in the Ninth Avenue bike lane. Gonzalez, allegedly the driver of said SUV, has been charged with third degree assault, also a class A misdemeanor.

As reader Omri noted in the comments on the calendar post, this week cyclist Ray Bengen and SUV driver Gus Gonzalez have separate dates in Manhattan Criminal Court. Bengen was charged with criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor, after getting knocked to the pavement and badly bruised while attempting to get around an SUV stopped in the Ninth Avenue bike lane. Gonzalez, allegedly the driver of said SUV, has been charged with third degree assault, also a class A misdemeanor.

We’re tracking both cases, and we’ll keep you posted on any developments. While Gonzalez and Bengen are both supposed to present their desk appearance tickets in court this week (Gonzalez today and Bengen tomorrow), it looks like there won’t be much new to report. Each case is still in a very preliminary phase, and, should the DA choose to move forward with prosecution, arraignments are unlikely until next week at the earliest.

Photo of Ben Fried
Ben Fried started as a Streetsblog reporter in 2008 and led the site as editor-in-chief from 2010 to 2018. He lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, with his wife.

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.

More from Streetsblog New York City

Feds Charge Fraud Temp Tag Dealers ID’d in Streetsblog’s ‘Ghost Plate’ Series

May 22, 2026

State Pols Pass The Non-Controversial Part Of Hochul’s Car Insurance Reforms

May 22, 2026

Mamdani Says He’ll Back DOT Against Bikelash in W. 72nd St. Safety Revamp

May 22, 2026

Firefighters Flex Union Muscle In Bid To Keep Deadly Astoria Corridor Unsafe

May 22, 2026

Friday Video: A Bike Lane on Chambers Street!

May 22, 2026
See all posts