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NYPD: Driver Who Killed Teen Cyclist In Brooklyn Blew Twice The Legal BAC
By
Emma Whitford
Published Jul 19, 2016
Modified Jul 19, 2016
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By
Emma Whitford
Published Jul 19, 2016
Modified Jul 19, 2016
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The driver who struck and killed a teenage cyclist in Brooklyn on Sunday evening had a blood alcohol level of 0.163 at the time of his arrest, an NYPD source confirmed Monday. The legal limit for operating a vehicle is less than half that—0.08.
The NYPD's preliminary investigation also revealed that 24-year-old Thomas Groarke, who has since been charged with vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, and driving while ability impaired, was speeding at the time of the crash.
Sean Ryan, 17, graduated this spring from Xaverian High School, a private Catholic high school in Bay Ridge. A GoFundMe page started in Ryan's memory details that the teen was planning to attend Iona College in New Rochelle this fall. His family has lived in Gerritsen Beach, where Ryan was fatally struck, since 2007.
An anonymous friend told the News that Ryan aspired to be a journalist, and kept his own sports blog writing about professional basketball, football and hockey.
Police said that Ryan was riding his bicycle northbound down the middle of Gerritsen Avenue near the corner of Gotham Avenue shortly after 8:45 p.m. on Sunday—about half a mile from his home—at the time of the crash. Groarke was headed south in a white Honda Accord and drove onto the painted median, striking Ryan. According to a criminal complaint acquired by the News, Groarke crossed onto the median while attempting to pass another car in the southbound lane. The crash left Ryan's bicycle in two pieces on the roadway.
The tabloid reports that Groarke was arraigned Monday and released on $50,000 bail.
At least 13 cyclists have been killed on NYC streets in 2016 to date. By comparison, five cyclists had been killed this time last year—a year-to-year increase of about 140%.
Two other pedestrians were killed by allegedly drunk drivers this week. Zaalika Rasool was killed by a speeding, allegedly drunk driver in Queens on Sunday (the driver fled and has yet to be apprehended, while Rasool's 9-year-old daughter clings to life), and 21-year-old Andrew Esquivel was fatally struck on a Williamsburg sidewalk by Nicholas Batka, 28, an off-duty police officer. Batka was charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault, driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired and driving on a sidewalk, and has since been released on a $300,000 bail.
Tagged
brooklyn
cis
cyclist death
dui
fatality
gerritsen beach
sean ryan
Emma Whitford
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