[UPDATE] Deliveryman For Chinese Musician Restaurant Killed In Greenpoint, Driver Reportedly Charged With DWI

(Flickr User BitchcakesNY)

[UPDATE BELOW: The driver's neighbor writes us in his defense.] A delivery worker, described by police as a 41-year-old Asian man, was killed last night in Greenpoint when a driver in a Buick struck him from behind as he waited at a stop sign. The accident occurred around 7 p.m. at the sleepy intersection of Leonard Street and Meserole Avenue, and witness Sheryl Yvette tells us the driver also hit a livery cab minivan at the intersection. In an email, she describes the horrible scene:

I arrived before he was taken away and did not watch when they pulled out the stretcher. When I arrived he was pinned under the minivan which was headed south on Leonard St. The man was lifeless. NYPD told me was dead, and that the driver was drunk and speeding. The driver hit the scooter with great force, knocking the livery car that was waiting at the stop sign (at Meserole) into the intersection and pinning the man and the scooter under the minivan.

Yvette adds that the victim was making deliveries for the popular Chinese Musician restaurant, and his "menu & takeout containers were all over the place." The NYPD confirms he was DOA at Bellevue, and that the unidentified driver was taken into custody, but a spokesperson would not comment on the nature of the charges. New York Shitty also hears that the Buick driver was arrested for D.W.I., and notes that more details will be provided at tonight's 94th Precinct Community Council meeting.

UPDATE 10:25: A woman who says she lives on Leonard Street sends us this email:

I live on on Leonard Street and happen to be the next store neighbor to the person that caused the accident. It's very unfortunate accident; happening so close to both my neighbors home and the delivery workers place of employment (it happened no more than 1 minute away for them both). The person who caused the accident is in all honesty a good person, I am not justifying what happened but I feel like it is necessary to state this because in this neighborhood prejudices run wild about the polish culture.
While I walked home and asked what happened to an onlooker I was told quite crudely "some fucking drunk polack." It just angers me that it comes down to such statements. Although, It is hard not to judge someone based on such a serve incident of terrible judgment. I don't really know where I am going with this email but I just felt that I needed to say that the driver is not someone who people that live around him would call reckless or irresponsible; although his actions last night were. I feel awful for everyone involved and send my sympathies to the family of the delivery worker. It's so strange how close they both were to their places of comfort and familiarity.

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

By John Del Signore in Food on October 11, 2011 9:24 AM

Comments [rss]

Peanut_Butter

I'm infrequently in Greenpoint, but apparently, I happened to be right in that area about an hour or so after it happened, and didn't know about it. Read about it next day. Coincidental, and sad.

None of us know when the game's over. Work hard, play hard, love a lot and enjoy every moment.

RIP, dude.

LiLa

The man left behind a wife who has no relatives in NY and a very young child. RIP

Bronxalien2013

Poles are the white Mexicans

Dookey_da_Klown

Nice hit on two ethnicities in one post!

kyle mcdonald

traggic

I was walking my dog and came across this accident only moments after the first cop car got there. I was in a really bad car accident myself and when I saw the body lying motionless under the other car I knew it wasn't good and so I didn't stay long. Honestly, given the position of all those involved I don't understand how it happened, but the second I got there I knew the guy was dead.

I don't know what the specifics are but I will say that people in this neighborhood HAUL ASS down all of the small narrow streets. Weather its a culture of Machismo, drunk Polls, or locals who ( after many many years ) don't seem to understand that this is a family neighborhood even when it is their family that lives here... the fact is that I've been waiting for something like this to happen. People drive SO freaking fast down these streets. I think its because they grew up here and they think they know them. Its just comfortable to them.

Unfortunately it IS the locals. For all the cultural solidarity the idea of a community and of a shared responsibility seems to be void. So people tear down the streets after spending the night drinking not thinking that it is their neighbors that might be in their path.

I have a Polish girlfriend, and as much as I hate to say it ( though she would prob agree with me ) I believe its true... its a Polish thing. And not just a Polish thing but a lower class Polish thing. Drink what you want, drive fast, pass out in the park, act like you have a community but take no effort in actually cultivating it beyond living in the same area. This guy lived down the street... had a family... and was driving like this... WTF??? I know I'll get flack for saying it but honestly thats my impression.

For me the only answer is speed bumps. For such a tight nit, and long standing community the people here ( mostly the men) don't seem to give a shit in general. There are a TON of kids ( there is an elementary school a block away ) around that can run into the street. And I hate to give fodder to the bigots on this comment board but yes, the drinking is out of hand.

This accident is incredibly sad and there was no need for it... but like I said, I'm not at all surprised and I've seen many, many instances where something like this could happen. For all of the families and the strength of the Polish community here it does seem like people just don't give a shit.

soothsayer

who remembers jade mountain on 2nd ave, manhattan? the owner was making a delivery when he was struck and killed by a truck. the family decided to close the restaruant soon after.

bawlsdeep

Wait wait wait... an Asian delivery man who stopped at a stop sign while riding a bike? This story has holes, people ...

yogichin

I left Greenpoint 8 years ago. The culture of the neighborhood as I knew it all my life was changing. The Polacks were taking over the neighborhood. They were rude, obnoxious and many times drunk. I hope they hang the bastard Be a lesson to them all that they are not above the law and no better than anyone else.

Gina S

Taking over? They have been there for over 100 years. Or do you mean they are taking over from the Dutch settlers or the Native Americans?

purpletape

I grew up in Greenpoint and it wasn't as Polish as it is today. Leonard St. was the only street that was prevalently Polish. My area was mostly Irish and Italian.

yogichin

Yes taking over. Yes they were there for over 100 years, so were other nationalities and everyone seemed to co-exist just fine except for the racial problems back in the 70's. The new wave of Polacks, the younger generation, are drunkards, violent and start shit with anyone who is not like them. I won't even get started on all the trouble that came when they opened up their Polish clubs. Fights every weekend, property damage to homes and vehicles, grown men pissing all over. They are disgustingly rude and obnoxious and care about no one but themselves. Again, I hope they hang the bastard--teach him and any other drunken assholes (Polish or not) that they can't do as they please. They need to be responsible.

Mr Mel

Not a bad response from Gothamist readers in this case. Only one Polish joke and it wasn't very funny.

Bronxalien2013

It was funny but you personally like Gallagher.

Mr Mel

Who's Gallagher?

Bronxalien2013

Carrot- tops daddy ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

birdlogo

Cops need to stop doing random illegal marijuana searches and start arresting the obvious and truly heinous criminals like drunks hauling ass through residential neighborhoods.

Courtney Dudley

I live at Meserole and Newell and walked by last night, wreckage was mostly removed, saw police tape, etc. I am so sad to hear that this happened only a few blocks away from my apartment.

Motorists need to slow down and obey speed limits in Greenpoint. Vans, cars, motorcycles, trucks of all kinds FLY down Meserole, sometimes honking their horns as they bypass stop signs and intersections. I guess the horn honking is a some sign of consideration but in an entirely residential neighborhood, its also very obnoxious.

Riding a bike down McGuiness is terrifying. A friend said the most bike-deaths happen there than anywhere in NYC (unconfirmed) and I believe them. I've found alternate routes home where I only have to cross over it and have still been chased and harassed twice by seemingly drunk or at least rowdy dudes in muscle cars, escaping narrowly by going the wrong way down a one way street on my bike.

I don't know what the solution is (more cops ticketing? speed bumps? more lights?) but something should change to make the roads safer for everyone.

Chris "Stu" Stuart

I live right above this intersection and I heard the crash and watched from my window. The guy was drunk enough so that I could tell he was drunk from a third floor window across the intersection. He was drunk enough so that the cop arrested him the moment he got out of the car. I don't care how nice of a person he is while sober. Drunks do stupid shit.