STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A 79-year-old man died at the hands of a person driving a truck with a revoked license on Staten Island. According to a report appearing in the New York Daily News, the doomed bicycle rider was less than one-half of a city block from his home when he was run down. […]
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A 79-year-old man died at the hands of a person driving a truck with a revoked license on Staten Island. According to a report appearing in the New York Daily News, the doomed bicycle rider was less than one-half of a city block from his home when he was run down. Family and friends remembered the 79-year-old grandfather as an inspiring teacher and role model. The fatal bicycle accident happened around 8:20 a.m. near the intersection of Signs Road and Arlene Street. Family members said that the bike rider grew tired of remaining in his house and started riding his bike for exercise when he was killed.
The bike rider’s family began to worry after not hearing from him after two hours. Soon, their worst fears were realized. A 43-year-old man driving a truck even though his New York driver’s license is revoked, slammed into the 79-year-old man while the truck made a left-hand turn from Signs Road onto Arlene Street.
Medics raced the bicyclist to Richmond University Hospital. Tragically, physicians could not save his life.
Police arrested the 43-year-old truck driver at the scene of the crash and charged him with aggravated driving with a revoked license as well as the failure to use care while turning. The man police arrested was not detained at the precinct. He received a desk summons and must appear in criminal court on a date in a couple of weeks. The driver expressed his regret over killing the bicycle rider. He said he was driving a friend’s truck at the time of the crash.
The family of the man who died spoke lovingly about the great character the man displayed. Family members explained that their loved one was a teacher in Albania who lived under a communist regime. Despite being poor, he looked out for all of his family and made sure they always had food to eat.