A New York City driver charged with manslaughter after killing a pedestrian and injuring three others was twice the legal limit after “drinking all day at a drunken brunch,” it is alleged.
Mahbub Ali, 26, was held by a judge earlier today on $300,000 bail despite prosecutors’ request that he be remanded in custody for the incident at Gramercy Park over the weekend, according to the New York Post.
Ali, from Queens, reportedly admitted to police that he started drinking around noon Sunday during brunch and continued to drink throughout the day before getting into his gray 2021 Hyundai Sonata.
Ali’s blood alcohol level was 0.158 two hours after the accident, nearly twice the legal driving limit.
Abdulheim Esiyok, 23, died at the scene while a 27-year-old woman broke her leg, a 21-year-old man suffered a cut on his leg and an 18-year-old suffered leg and back injuries.
Mahbub Ali is pictured here handcuffed after the gruesome incident on Saturday night
Abdulheim Esiyok, 23, pictured here, died at the scene while several others were injured in the incident
One person was killed and at least four injured when a car plowed into a group of people on a street corner in Lower Manhattan. Pictured is the scene at the East 21st Street and Third Avenue intersection
A view west along East 21st Street shows the car crashed into the LinkNYC station
Ali allegedly punched Esiyok at the Third Avenue crosswalk near 21st Street.
He then swerved and hit an 18-year-old man riding an e-bike up the avenue.
Ali then allegedly took to the sidewalk, his car’s right tire hitting two more pedestrians before crashing into the back of an empty NYPD van.
Assistant District Attorney Taylor Maurer said: “Ali admitted to drinking all day and then driving.
‘Because of [his] decision to drive while intoxicated, there are now four individuals who have suffered physical injuries, two of whom required surgery, and a 23-year-old man who has died.”
According to the New York daily newsMaurer said Esiyok was “thrown into the air for a considerable distance.”
The paper also reported that Esiyok was staying at a nearby shelter and regularly volunteered to attend a local church group.
A Gofundme has since been set up to help Esiyok’s family with his funeral, raising more than $22,000.
A tribute on the fundraiser said, “Abdulhekim Esiyok, a beloved member of our community and humble friend, sadly lost his life in a car accident in Manhattan on June 4th.
“We need your help to pray for him, support his family and ease their pain.”
That’s what Ali’s attorney Steven Epstein told me the New York Post: ‘This was a tragic accident that affected the lives of several families.
“We regret the consequences of the accident, but ask everyone to keep in mind that not all accidents result in criminal liability, even tragic ones like this one.”
A witness who heard the crash said some of the victims on the corner were migrants staying at Gramercy Training Academy using a LinkNYC Wi-Fi station
A witness who heard the crash said some of the victims on the corner were migrants staying at Gramercy Training Academy using a LinkNYC Wi-Fi station
The gray Hyundai Sonata crashed into the LinkNYC internet and charging station that witnesses said migrants used
George Colli, who heard the crash and rushed to the scene to help, told PIX11 at least some of the victims were migrants.
“This corner is a block from the Gramercy Training Academy where they house 300 to 400 immigrants, and that’s not an area with rooms, it’s not a hotel,” he told the station.
They often hang out on street corners. This happened right at a LinkNYC Wi-Fi and charging station where many of the immigrants will go for home calling, video, FaceTiming, and so forth,” he said.
Ali was charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault and driving under the influence.
He was taken into custody immediately after the crash and after his appearance earlier today and will appear in court again on June 9.