Mercedes Driver Arrested After Fatal Accident on Birthday: NYPD

Michael Rivera, the driver of a Mercedes-Benz luxury car, was arrested on suspicion of fleeing after the death of his friend Alex Caba, who he took out for a walk on his 33rd birthday.

According to the NYPD, Rivera speeding, ran a red light and crashed into an MTA bus on route B48 not Brooklyncausing Caba to be ejected from the car.

More than two months later accident on the night of February 26 happened in WilliamsburgRivera was arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene of a fatal accident, speeding and running a red light.

Caba planned to spend his birthday quietly at home until his friend Rivera (31) asked to take him out for a walk, he told the newspaper this week . Daily News The sister of the victim, Ivelise Caba.

“He didn’t mean to go out. I didn’t mean to go. His name was Michael…Finally, my brother said, ‘Okay.'” Caba le Rivera left about three hours before the fatal accident, his sister said to detail. honest, “It’s been just two months of still shock and disbelief,” he added.

According to the case, Rivera was running south on Harrison Ave., when he recklessly ran a red light and hit a bus. The MTA driver was heading east on Lorimer Street and had a green light when he hit the rear of the Mercedes. The impact caused the sedan to move onto the side, where Finally he entered the Citi Bike station. Caba, who was riding in the back seat, flew out of the car and landed on the street.

As Caba lay dying in the street, Rivera and three others fled the accident on foot, police and MTA sources said. The victim’s family say they still can’t imagine why the driver fled when their friend was dying.

The sister said Rivera never came to explain what happened to them. “He’s been hidingHe continued to live as if nothing had happened.” The friends lived five blocks apart, about a mile from where the accident happened.

All accusations are just accusations and those accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Traffic accidents are a major challenge in New York and In many cases the drivers fled. at the moment 2024 is already the deadliest year on New York asphalt since the creation of “Vision Zero”: 60 died from traffic accidents in the first three months of the year.

Despite this “Vision Zero” road safety plan created in 2014 by then-new Mayor Bill de Blasio, who promised to make the city safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers with a goal zero death for this year 2024.

The authorities remember that zero tolerance for drivers who drive faster and/or under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Also cyclists and motorcyclists are often the main characters of road accidentsas victims and perpetrators, when they drive on the sides, respect the traffic lights and even the direction of the streets.

Last month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that with the call Sammy’s law New York City will be authorized to lower the speed limit to 20 mph and even 10 mph on streets in the five boroughs as part of an emerging state budget deal in Albany.

In December Governor Hochul signed the “Angelic Law”, intended to keep drivers off the road in advance by charging offenders who run vehicles after committing five or more traffic violations that result in a stop or revocation as a felony.