A driver who killed a cyclist in Brooklyn last year has pled guilty to manslaughter.
The unidentified victim -- reportedly a man in his 20s -- was riding a bike in the crosswalk across Avenue P at E. 12th Street in Midwood on the night of May 9, 2016, when Eduard Nikhman, driving a Honda sedan, ran a red light and hit a second vehicle, propelling it into the cyclist and causing fatal injuries.
Witnesses spoke with WCBS after the crash:
Minutes before the crash, witnesses spotted what looked to be Nihkman’s Honda speeding through the streets of the neighborhood.
“Yeah, ran that light, this light. It all happened in a second, that’s how fast he was going,” said witness Matthew Diab. “The guy coming this way had no chance.”
Nikhman, then 26, tested positive for cocaine. He was charged with two counts of manslaughter, two counts of assault, homicide, and driving while impaired by drugs -- all felonies -- as well as speeding, reckless driving, and failure to obey a traffic device.
According to court records, on Tuesday Nikhman pled guilty to all charges. Manslaughter, the top charge, is a class C felony with penalties ranging from probation to 15 years in prison.
Nikhman is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog New York City
Eyes On The Street: Coastal Resiliency Causes Mess For Pedestrians and Cyclists
Unfortunately for cyclists and pedestrians, this situation won't be fixed until "at least 2026.”
State Pols Still Haven’t Spent Millions Alloted for Transit as Congestion Pricing Looms
There's like $45 million sitting there — unspent — for outer borough transit improvements. What are state pols waiting for?
Supporters, Mayor Rally for ‘City of Yes’ Zoning Change as it Enters Public Review Phase
The mayor's signature zoning plan is ready for review by all 59 community board, plus the city's five borough presidents and then each Council member. Advocates are worried it will be watered down.
‘Buy, Bully, Bamboozle’: Report Alleges App Companies Threaten Democracy
App delivery companies seek to block worker-led improvements by spending big money on political influence, leveraging their data, and even co-opting progressive language, argues a new report that lands days before a national one-day strike by app-workers.
