Fatal East Village DWI Driver Held on $75,000 Bail

Tenzing Bhutia, a 21-year-old Baruch College student, is being held on $75,000 bail after fatally driving into a young woman crossing Bowery near East 4th Street in Lower Manhattan. Bhutia did not stop after hitting Julia Thomson early Sunday morning, and when police found him - and his father's damaged Mercedes Benz in Queens - hours later, his blood alcohol was 0.087, above the 0.08 legal limit.

The Post reports that Thomson (pictured), a Scottish transplant who lived in the East Village, had been showing a friend the town when she was hit. A doorman at Phebes said he and others tried to comfort the friend, "We tried to calm down her friend, but she was just really upset." Thomson's father told the Scotsman that his daughter had planned on staying in NYC for another year; her MySpace said, "I'm having the time of my life."

Bhutia was charged with vehicular homicide, in addition to DWI and leaving the scene of an accident. Police found that Bhutia knew he hit something but still did not stop. Assistant DA Dafna Yoran said that Bhutia "drove away immediately to avoid responsibility."

Bhutia's sister Kessang cried, "He's a good kid! This was just a mistake. It was an accident," during his arraignment yesterday. However, a friend of Thomson's said, "He should definitely spend time in jail. How do you run away from something like that?"

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By Jen Chung in News on October 2, 2007 10:25 AM

Comments [rss]

guest

We all did it, Driving messed up. If you have not, I am sure you either know someone who has done it, Or even been in car with a intoxicated driver.

Good people get jammed up, Make mistakes.

It's not like he wanted to do it.

JW168

guest

Any REAL ny'er knows not to exit a cab in to traffic.

You slide your ass to the curbside. Unless you're a entitled a-hole who thinks the world revolves around you that you can't take that extra second to just slide your butt to the curbside.

Don't write checks your body can't cash.

oh, you can get killed walking your doggie.

slick.

guest

this matter is extremely serious, i know everyone can agree with me on that note.

i can understand that he was under the influence at the time but i can also understand that she was j-walking while she shouldn't have.

nationality, religion, culture has nothing to do with this situation so don't be so childish people.

guest

What a skuzzy looking skank piece of white trash - looks like she frequents the pharmacy at Duane Reade quite often...

guest

he pulled a lizzie grubman

guest

all f*cking racists and bigots must motherf*cking HANG.

guest

I commend mr. bhutia, just like I commend mr. vang.

I bless you two gentlemen. you did good.

we need more of you out there. I drink in your honor tonight. if you need back up just holla.

guest

WHY DON'T ALL YAH JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP AND MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. IF THIS HAPPEN TO ONE OF YOU, WOULD YOU LIKE PEOPLE WRITING SHIT LIKE THIS ABOUT YOU??!! GO FUCK YOURSELF!

CR

How did The Post describe her physically?

ed_Extinct

good kid? good kids don't drink and drive

accident? if so then he would have stopped to help nt run away like a filthy coward!

i think public hanging need to be reinstated.

guest

#27 - your argument doesn't make sense cause it's true. That defeats the purpose of racism.

guest

I don't understand how people can be racist against asians for driving bad when the majority of all car related accidents belong to white people. MOst DUI's? white people. Most dismemberings by cars. White people. I guess that stereotype is broken.

guest

yes asians should not drive. White people never get into accidents in cars. oh wait yes they do, and they own the majority of DUI's too! who knew that logic and reason would prevail?

TKaisen

It is never a mistake or an accident when you get behind the wheel drunk and attempt to drive.

Unfortunately, leaving the scene of the accident when you know you'll fail a breathalyzer is the smartest thing you can do.

If he stays at the scene of the accident, he gets charged with vehicular homicide and DWI. If he leaves and they don't find him for a day, he gets leaving the scene of the accident and a traffic ticket.

Take a guess at which one probably doesn't involve jail.

guest

23. Have some respect man

guest

[23] You are an ill human being that will die alone

guest

look before you cross the street and maybe you won't get hit. Its always the white trash and black dumbasses who think cars should avoid them. You look before you cross, not when you make it halfway across.

pik

Thomson's brother summed it up: "This has just been a tragic accident."

No sir, accidents are not preventable. This BOY got behind the wheel of a car, wasted, and killed this girl. Plain and simple.

YOU LIVE IN NYC YOU SCHMUCK!! IF YOU GET DRUNK, HAIL A CAB!! TAKE THE SUBWAY!!!