Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Carnage

Breaking: Driver Who Killed Baby Apolline Hit With Manslaughter, DA Says

The reckless recidivist driver who cops say slammed  into a Brooklyn family, killing a 3-month-old baby, is now facing manslaughter charges that were handed up by a grand jury late Friday, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office said.

Tyrik Mott had initially been charged only with a top count for allegedly trying to steal a car to flee the Saturday, Sept. 11 crash in Clinton Hill. But on Friday, a grand jury added the additional charge of second-degree manslaughter.

He’ll be arraigned on those charges next week. Mott apparently remains at Rikers Island, having failed to make bail on the original charges.

The new charges are the latest turn in the case of Tyrik Mott, whose Pennsylvania-registered car has been nabbed 91 times by city speed- and red-light cameras — and Mott himself arrested in February for driving without a valid license — yet was able to keep driving when a judge released on the condition that he stay out of trouble.

But Mott did not stay out of trouble, apparently. He kept driving recklessly, racking up at least 16 camera-issued speeding tickets and five camera-issued red-light tickets since that May dismissal. He also got at least nine non-moving violation tickets for such transgressions as blocking a hydrant or a bus lane — and those tickets are written by humans who also failed to keep Mott off the road. It is unclear whether NYPD traffic enforcement officers have a system in place to catch big fish like Mott when they are writing routine parking tickets.

The de Blasio has been criticized all week for not implementing the Dangerous Vehicle Abatement act, which was signed in early 2020, but not funded until this year. The law requires all drivers who get 15 camera-issued speeding tickets or five red-light tickets to take a defensive driving course or have their car impounded.

But the de Blasio administration did not create the courses or the impound system. More details of the case are here.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Friday’s Headlines: City of Yes Edition

There was only one story yesterday: The embattled mayor succeeded in passing what might become the signature initiative of his one term. But there was other news, too.

November 22, 2024

Analysis: Mayor Gets the ‘W,’ But Council Turns His Zoning Plan into ‘City Of Yes … Sort Of’

The City Council took a crucial step towards passing City of Yes, but it also let low density areas opt out of much of the plan.

November 22, 2024

Five Ways New NYPD Boss Jessica Tisch Can Fix Our Dangerous Streets

If the Sanitation Commissioner wants to use her new position to make city streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, here's where she can start.

November 21, 2024

What Do the Mayoral Candidates Think Of ‘City of Yes’?

Too bad for Hizzoner that challengers Zellnor Myrie, Brad Lander, Scott Stringer, Jessica Ramos and Zohran Mamdani — all Democrats — aren't on the Council. 

November 21, 2024
See all posts