Driver charged with manslaughter in Upper East Side crash that turned into deadly dispute
UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- A man is charged with manslaughter in an apparent case of road rage that turned deadly in Manhattan Wednesday.
Authorities said the incident began as a fender bender between a Chevrolet pickup truck and a Volkswagen Jetta on East 60th Street just after 4 p.m.
Eyewitnesses said they saw Roberto Velez Alvarez get out of the Chevrolet with a knife and slash the tires of the Volkswagen.
"I just saw the guy stopped the car, gets out of the car, argues, gets back to the car, grabs a knife, goes back, flattens the back tire, the front one, goes in front of the car," witness Betina Sisi said. "The next thing that happens the driver literally goes through him."
The argument escalated further when the Volkswagen's driver, Andre Mosby, stepped on the gas and crashed into a nearby cafe, pinning Velez against the facade.
The 56-year-old Alvarez was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Mosby remained on the scene and was taken into police custody. He told detectives he was acting in self defense but he has since been charged with manslaughter and assault.
A woman and three children were in the Volkswagen with him at the time of the dispute.
Alvarez's family said he wouldn't fight with anyone.
"That's not my husband. The person that they are describing is not my husband," Alvarez's wife, Alex Garcia, said.
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