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Tourist Dies After Being Punched In Mistaken Uber Altercation
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 8, 2018
Modified Aug 9, 2018
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 8, 2018
Modified Aug 9, 2018
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A Florida man visiting New York City has died after he was punched during an altercation last weekend over a mistaken Uber ride.
Police say that Sandor Szabo, 35, was involved in the altercation around 1:15 a.m. Sunday morning near 41-10 29th Street in Queens. Szabo reportedly knocked on the window of the assailant's car, thinking it was an Uber he had requested. The driver then allegedly got out and punched Szabo in the face; his head hit the pavement when he fell back and he lost consciousness.
The suspect fled the scene northbound in a white SUV. Szabo was hospitalized in critical condition before dying Tuesday.
His coworkers told CBS12 that the Boca Raton resident had been in town for work and then stayed for his stepsister's wedding; he was leaving the hotel where his brother was staying when the incident happened.
"I hope they find him and bring him to justice," Josh Gillon, CEO of What If Holdings, told the local news outlet. "This was really a stupid, stupid act. It's a big family and he was an important part of it so everybody is just heartbroken."
Cops describe the suspect as a bald man, and he was last seen wearing a light colored long sleeved shirt and jeans.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
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Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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