L.I. Resident Charged in Fatal Manhattan Hit-and-Run

Last night, a Brooklyn woman was fatally struck by a driver in a Mercedes SUV on Water Street and Old Slip in lower Manhattan. Florence Cioffi, 59, was pronounced dead at NYU Downtown Hospital.

The vehicle's driver, George W. Anderson, according to CityRoom, "left the scene of the accident but returned five minutes later" and "refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test to determine if he had been drinking." He was charged with vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and criminally negligent homicide. The police took him to NYU Downtown Hospital to get a blood sample, via court order.

WNBC reports that Cioffi had been "crossing the street in the middle of the block." Her fiance told CityRoom that she had been having dinner with friends. Cioffi worked at a company previously based at the World Trade Center (on September 11, she was "drinking a cup of coffee outside the building when the attack occurred and fled the scene").

Anderson described himself to police as a computer programmer, but he's apparently the founder, President and CEO of Enterprise Engineering, based in Manhattan and which provides software and services to Fortune 500 companies. He had recently sold a home in Westhampton and bought a $3.8 million house in Brookville.

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

By Jen Chung in News on January 25, 2008 2:06 PM

Comments [rss]

FrankMartin

"Pedestrian always has the right of way"

REally? If you break the law by jaywalking and a car hits you. I seem to remember that getting people off all the time. Tehy might still face drink or drug charges from a blood test, but not a charge of manslaughter etc.

Gwinny

No surprise here that yet another douchebag in an SUV killed an innocent pedestrian. Yes, jaywalking is foolish (Lord knows I've come close to hitting a number of clueless jaywalking peds when on my bike) but when you drive in Manhattan, you *always* have to be watching out for what's going on around you.

Of course, if the dude was going too fast (as SUV drivers are wont to do), he probably couldn't react quickly enough to avoid her.

JacqueMehoff

mr. anderson is 47. sue him for all he's got.

he refused a breathalyzer? but they got his blood.

and, he just bought a new 3 mil home.

rest in peace mrs. Cioffi.

glennQNYC

Posted by Eager2: "They aren't New Yorkers, they're from frickin' L.I. and Jersey."

I just love when people argue who they consider a New Yorker...

glennQNYC

Does anyone really think a measly $8 'congestion' tax would have this guy take mass-transit from Glen Head? :rolleyes:

Muscley Armed Paper Boy

You can't run someone down just because they're crossing in middle of the block, but they take you by surprise, especially at night. You're not expecting a pedestrian to run into the middle of traffic, you're busy watching other cars. When you get to a crosswalk, THEN you keep an extra eye on pedestrians. It's hard enough avoiding the taxis, but trying to avoid jaywalkers is tricky.

This is terrible, but people who jaywalk are gambling with their lives, sometimes they lose. Use the crosswalk.

JenChungsBaby

Pedestrian always has the right of way. You can't run someone down just because they're crossing in between and not at the green.

Besides, he was [probably] drunk. What I don't understand is why he came back after five minutes. If you're going to leave the scene then at least stay away until you sober up.

Toby von Meistersinger

They should crush the truck, too. One less of these absurd vehicles for urban/suburban driving is a good thing. This particular one was originally designed for military applications. The Geländewagen is basically the Mercedes version of the Hummer.

FrankMartin

Any chance that her crossing in the middle of the block will get him off. I could just see his lawyer calling her out for jay walking or some other BS like she was a little buzzed from dinner.

JMZ

Remember. CASH RULES!!!!! He is charged with 3 felonies. The DA will offer him a deal 5 yrs probation, 30 days in jail and some fines. the haves will always have their way.

Nah hes gonna have to get at least 6mos in jail because Lizzie got more than 30 days and she only managed to cripple the guy.

Rocknrope

Final Destination.

Reality Czech

vehicle manslaughter?

I guess he killed the SUV too!

jibbly

babyhitler - Upcommence? Unless the misspelling was intentional and thus flying over my head, that's comeuppance.

Perhaps your screen name was actually meant to be "hitler, baby"

Snoopy

Give the guy a break he's only been out of college a year and he was celebrating his buyout with a couple of pops.

babyhitler

Burn noveau Riches burn! Man, I love it when rich douchebags get their upcommence.

BMMDan

how did they find out his real job title?

http://www.joineei.com/about_leadership_team.html

ed_Extinct

and his wealth means what? nothing!

burn him!

JenChungsBaby

A "Mr. Anderson" who is a computer programmer?

Neo drives a Mercedes SUV?

Snoopy

Sue him! If he's driving one of those $70,000 plus MB suv's he's got plenty of money.

ed_Extinct

and his wealth means what? nothing!

burn him!

Tgirl

revoke his EZ Pass

eager2

These are the people who drive in Manhattan. They aren't New Yorkers, they're from frickin' L.I. and Jersey. Pass congestion pricing now. Cars are completely unnecessary in this city.