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Anger, Resignation Over Seizure Cabbie's Plea Deal
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 30, 2010
Modified Mar 30, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 30, 2010
Modified Mar 30, 2010
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Yesterday, a cabbie who stopped taking his seizure medication pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide for a crash that killed a passenger in 2006. But Hassan Afzal was given a plea deal with a sentencing recommendation of five years probation—no jail time—which upset victim Danielle Ricco's family as well as the other women injured in the accident. Ricco's father said, "We're heartbroken. He's never expressed any remorse," while Anna Sallustio, whose pelvis and leg were shattered, said, "I am appalled."
Afzal was driving Ricco, Sallustio, Sallustio's sister, and Amy Vallarelli up the West Side Highway with four female passengers in tow. Afzal lost consciousness and crashed into a building, causing 21-year-old Ricco to be thrown from the passenger's seat and then crushed by another car. Afzal's lawyer claims his client is remorseful, but it was only yesterday that Afzal admitted he lied on motor vehicle licensing documents about his history of seizures—earlier, his claim was that the brakes failed.
Grieving father Richard Ricco also spoke to the Tmes, “It’s hard to accept that, under the circumstances, this person just walks away with five years’ probation," but said that they appreciated the assistant district attorney for working closely with them: "The family trusted [ADA Kerry] O’Connell’s advice that this was the best resolution to the case, Mr. Ricco said. Ms. O’Connell told him that it would have been difficult to prove that Mr. Afzal had a seizure just before the car crashed."
The News also reports that Afzal asked the judge if he could travel to Pakistan to see his family; probation officials will decide that.
Tagged
cab
cab driver
Danielle Ricco
fatal crash
hassan afzal
probation
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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