Jean Chambers.
Queens resident Roberto Mercado, 52, was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison Tuesday for hitting and killing Upper West Sider Jean Chambers on 95th street and West End Avenue in July 2014; he had already hit two other pedestrians within the year. Mercado was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in November; his SUV dragged Chambers 85 feet after the collision.
The judge chastised Mercado in terms that are rare in the NYC criminal justice system, where most crashes are deemed “accidents” and carry no charges even when the driver fails to yield to a pedestrian.
The judge said Chambers, who was 61 and left behind a husband and daughter, had done “more than everything right,” even opting to cross at 95th street, rather than 96th because she thought 95th was safer, according to the Daily News.
“To me this is not an accident. … It was a violent crime. It was a crime of extraordinary violence and the fact that you didn’t intend to kill Jean Chambers is fully accounted for,” Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Daniel Conviser said before sentencing.
He revoked Mercado’s license and ordered him to state prison for 1-to-3 years, although he will likely be eligible for release after eight months.
“As New Yorkers, we shouldn’t have to be fearful … that we can be mowed down by somebody who is acting with extraordinary carelessness and extraordinary criminal negligence,” the judge added.
Mercado pleaded with the judge for mercy at the sentencing hearing.
“This hurts me deeply inside,” he said. “I made a left turn, I didn’t see her. It was an accident,” he said.
A crime of extraordinary violence gets 8 months?
WTF even bother having a justice system?
Exactly, I thought “extraordinary violence” should get at least 5-10. I think I prefer “street justice” when necessary, our courts are a joke.
+1
Please, somebody tell me his driver’s license is revoked permanently.
‘“This hurts me deeply inside,” he said. “I made a left turn, I didn’t see her. It was an accident,” he said.’
Yep an accident. Just after you dragged her 85 feet without stopping. He should be in jail for way longer than that.
It’s that time of year again, the lunar eclipse when the upper west side “crime and punishment” folks come out. Don’t worry, when they are done talking about something that actually effects them (see NIMBY) they will go right back to deploring the mandatory minimums.
“The judge said Chambers, who was 61 and left behind a husband and daughter, had done “more than everything right,” even opting to cross at 95th street, rather than 96th because she thought 95th was safer”
Tragically, pedestrians continue to cross at 96th Street, as dangerously designed. The latest DOT creativity was to paint faint dotted lines to indicate to cars which lane to drive in. That, of course after each lane meges every which way into the intersection to creat the max kill zone.
“merge”
This pretty much tells it all…
“he had already hit two other pedestrians within the year.”
Sorry..I’ve been driving for 30 years..I haven’t even hit an animal!!!!
Try harder.
What happened to the moderator of this list?
This comment “try harder” (i.e. to kill an animal) is among the more idiotic and tone-deaf (if humor was intended) I’ve encountered, ever.
I thought it was funny, but thanks Josh for your trolling!
An outrageously low sentence.
This justice system is a crime in itself, this guy should have gotten at least ten years to think about these judges are a joke.
It’s just amazing if someone takes a gun and kills someone they go to jail for life. If you kill someone with a car, you get a slap on the wrist. Sickening.
Have you seen the pedestrian craziness at 96& Broadway?? More often it is a moron jaywalker than vehicle.
I’m going to assemble some nice dashcam soon.