Driver In Insane Bronx Rampage Set New Low For Recklessness

Victim Miguel Colon

The enraged driver whose appalling mile-long rampage through the Bronx Sunday left one father dead could be arraigned as early as today on multiple charges, including manslaughter, reckless endangerment, assault and child endangerment. NYPD spokesman Paul Browne tells the Times, "I know of no incident in which a motorist crashed into so many cars over so long a distance on city streets. It’s rare by any measure."

Mark St. Pierre, a 36-year-old electronics store worker with a rap sheet featuring 15 prior arrests and convictions on assault and drug charges, allegedly crashed into seven cars and injured at least nine people during the high-speed incident, ultimately killing one: Miguel Colon, 36, who was walking his 6-year-old son Sebastian back to his ex-wife's Baychester home after a bike riding lesson. Colon was able to push Sebastian out of the way before St. Pierre killed him in his 2008 Infiniti sedan; he then kept driving, hitting five more cars and only stopping when, according to one witness, "His car was all smashed up. And he could not go further."

Police say the 1.37-mile rampage started when St. Pierre assaulted his former companion in the parking lot of a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant, after an argument sparked by his attempt to take their 3-year-old daughter away from a party. He hit two cars while leaving the parking lot, and sped off down East Gun Hill Road, allegedly blowing through red lights with a sickening disregard for life. Another witness recounted to the Times, "You couldn’t tell what kind of car it was. He was going so fast."

Colon, a cell phone store clerk, had recently remarried and was saving up for the honeymoon. His distraught sister, Kisha Colon, tells the Daily News, "When I heard they got the guy [St. Pierre], it meant nothing to me. I want to ask him, 'How can you do this?' He has no soul. He took a precious life and ruined many others." Colon's stepfather, Rafael Cruz, says, "That man does not care about others' lives. There is no punishment enough."

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By John Del Signore in News on July 14, 2009 10:05 AM

Comments [rss]

dadoc

They would never let me be a judge. While being against governmental homicide, I would feel perfectly justified in expeditiously handing him over to the victim's family to do with as they see fit. Were he to survive, they could give him back to me to put him in the slammer for life.

Snoopy

What ever happened to the three strikes ruling?

ANGRYGOD11

That applies to felonies. If he plead down to minor charges, it doesn't count.

BTW, it's 15 prior arrests and convictions. However, arrests don't count in sentencing.

Spirit of 76

I want to ask him, 'How can you do this?'

I doubt you'd get any kind of satisfactory answer. You won't even get shame from this guy. Guilt requires possession of a conscience.

UnrepentantFenian

The judge needs to throw the book at this guy, then leap over the bench, pick up the book, and beat him to death with it.

schizofriendly

I don't know why people are dissing this guy. All he wanted to do was live like he was in a video game. We all have dreams.

hotstepper

weak.

NannyState

This is one more instance where the State is totally and completely negligent allowing a career criminal out into the streets to reoffend and in this terrible incident, to kill a good guy who saved his child from his own fate. Career criminals need to be buried away for life and this guy St. Pierre needs to be on Death Row.

Guest

"That man does not care about others' lives. There is no punishment enough."

Actually there is, but NY wussed out a couple of years ago and abolished the death penalty.

farleft

Jail for life is a far more severe punishment.

angry_pickle

Jail for life is a far more severe punishment.

For whom? The criminal or the tax payers?

farleft

Americans always complain about taxes, taxes, taxes. Then they say America is the best country on this earth. Then they complain that everything is too expensive. Then they say capitalism is much better then socialism. Then they start wars with other countries and spend hundreds of billions of dollars to fund it. etc etc etc.

But, back to the prisoner issue...The solution is not to kill our prisoners. Inevitably innocents will be murdered with the death penalty, as has been the case on many occasions already.

If you've never visited a jail, or even better, spent a night in jail, I suggest you do so. The life you live rotting in a jail cell is far more miserable than the life one loses when executed.

angry_pickle

Is that why the defendant's lawyer always tries to argue for life in prison instead of execution? Because they want to make their client's life more miserable?

Peter

Something doesn't make sense ... an ex-con who works as a store clerk, yet he has a 2008 Infiniti? Those are expensive luxury cars. How did he afford it?

jibbly

My guess is that he lives rent free with a relative or girlfriend and spends all his money on lease and insurance payments for the Infinity.

Steven

Using drug or gang money.

mrgetgood

The victim was the cell phone salesman.

nicemarmot

He had 15 prior arrests on assaults and drug charges? Why is it always people who should have been in jail in the first place who do shit like this? And how are they only charging him with manslaughter? I'd call it murder 2. He seems to have been trying to kill someone.