Drunk Driver Fatally Hits Woman on Sidewalk

A 50-year-old NJ resident was killed by a drunk driver early yesterday morning in Ozone Park, Queens. The Post reports that Teresa Mankarious, who was driving back from Long Island with her fiance, had gotten out of her car at the Esquire Diner to walk their dog. While on the sidewalk, a car driven by 23-year-old Woodhaven resident Michael Barlow was suddenly on the sidewalk and hit her, throwing her 50 feet. She was pronounced dead at Jamaica Hospital.

According to the police, Barlow's blood alcohol was 0.16, twice the legal limit, and had an open bottle of Heineken in the car. He was coming back from the Mets game, where he said he had two beers. Barlow was charged with DWI, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

This comes during a weekend with a number of vehicle-related deaths in Queens: The early Saturday morning DWI death of an aspiring rap promoter in the Rockaways and an early Sunday morning death of a pedestrian in Far Rockaway (the driver stayed at the scene and was not charged).

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on August 13, 2007 8:05 AM

Comments [rss]

guest

I am Terri's fiance and I had to watch the woman I love and was going to spend the rest of my life with leave me because of a drunken bastard i hope he rots in hell

guest

I was at the diner. Ms. Mankarious had been sitting opposite us just moments before. While we did not witness the accident, my friend and I saw the aftermath. We would like to pay our respects. Are there any details about a funeral or memorial?

guest

No, this story is not made up. We are all suffering horribly over this tragedy. All we can hope for is that some other people get the message and stop their dangerous, sometimes deadly behaviors. It is not worth it in the end. Please take a cab, call a friend. or sleep it off next time. May her soul rest in peace.

bklynd

Supposedly all drunks will claim to have had "two beers."

guest

No, Smitty, Shea also stops at the end of the 7th inning.

smitty

Yankee stops serving beer during the 7th Inning. I believe Shea continues until the end of the game? I could be wrong.

joemethemoney

is it really responsible for stadiums to sell alcohol where its safe to say a large number of fans drive home?

ed_Extinct

when will they learn?

when will our trusty government stop handing out ridiculous sentences to killers? this guy will get 2-3 then parole...

wow.. that's a heafty punishment for taking a life.

JMH

There's no excuse for this kind of shit. Two beers my ass.

smitty

Mankarious was pronounced dead on arrival at Jamaica Hospital. The dog was not hurt.

"[Mankarious was] a single mother working hard to support her son and self. Later in life, she became engaged to be married again," her brother said.

Elderta

Did the doggie die, too?

Such a sad story all around.

guest

Are those longneck heinekens? never seen THOSE before! is this story made-up? a bit of monday morning artifice??????

WhittySmitty

There is no excuse for this kind of behavior, espicially in a city devoted to public transportation. Just awful. I feel so sorry for that woman and her fiance. I hope the asshole who killed her rots in prision. I don't care if he didn't mean to kill her, but he should know that if he's going to drink and drive, he's ricking hundreds of lives. Makes me so angry!

jake dobkins art history thesi

by 'hits' you mean 'murders,' right?

MarygraceNYC

When will they learn? This city should toughen up DWI consequences and laws. Make it a prison sentence standard for driving drunk. How many more innocent people have to die?