A driver who killed a cyclist and injured several pedestrians after a day of boozing is facing years in jail, thanks to an indictment by the Manhattan District Attorney.
Mahbub Ali was indicted on Thursday on charges including vehicular homicide, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault and drunk driving stemming from the June 4 crash. The top charge carries a sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. His lawyer, Steven Epstein did not return a call.
According to Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, Ali started drinking at brunch in the Financial District at around noon and continued imbibing at "multiple locations." By 7:30 p.m., he was intoxicated and "speeding up Third Avenue in a Hyundai Sonata with a passenger in the front seat."
First, Bragg said, Ali struck and killed 22-year-old bicyclist Abdulhekim Esiyok at the intersection of E. 21st Street, then crashed into a light pole, an NYPD van, and a garbage can. That crash injured another bicyclist, and debris struck and injured two pedestrians on the sidewalk, one of them critically. Ali's passenger was lightly injured.
"Vehicular violence threatens the safety of New Yorkers who have the right to walk and bike without fear,” Bragg said in a statement. “Mahbub Ali allegedly drove while intoxicated, killing a bicyclist and injuring multiple others as they were out on a summer Sunday. My thoughts are with the friends and family of the young man who lost his life, as well as the victims who continue to heal from their injuries.”
The indictment comes amid rising fears by pedestrians of all manner of vehicles on city roadways, but only limited understanding that the greatest threat to walkers and cyclists is represented by the drivers of cars and trucks.
According to the NYPD's crash statistics, there were 44,754 reported crashes between Jan. 1 and June 23. Of those, 43,188 — or 96 percent — were caused by drivers of cars, SUVs, trucks, ambulances, vans and other heavy motorized vehicles. Just 826 crashes — or 1.8 percent — were caused by the operators of e-bikes, e-scooters, mopeds or motorbikes, according to the police.
Drilling down further, there were 3,952 crashes that caused injuries to at least one pedestrian during that period. Of those crashes, 3,784 — or 96 percent again — were caused by car and truck drivers. Only 168 — or 4.2 percent — were caused by the operators of e-bikes, e-scooters, mopeds or motorbikes, according to the police.
So far this year, 21 cyclists have been killed, the highest number through this point of any year in four decades, according to Transportation Alternatives.
