Yesterday afternoon, two coworkers at an architecture firm were walking on East 37th Street between Fifth and Madison Avenues when a Gristede's delivery van, driven by an apparently drunk man, jumped the curb and slammed into them on the sidewalk. A 29-year-old mother of three, who was also three months pregnant, was killed while a 37-year-old woman was seriously injured.
According to witnesses, the van's driver, Keston Brown, was "hooting" and "cat-calling" at Ysemny Ramos, the 29-year-old. The Daily News reports, "When the two ignored the men's advances, the van slammed into the women, pinning [Tassia] Katsiambanis, before coming to a stop at a CitiBank, police said." Other pedestrians rushed to help, but Katsiambanis told them, "Don't touch me. I broke my hand. Go help my friend, she's pregnantI!" However, Ramos was too severely injured; the super of the building where the pair worked had wanted to help but couldn't and told the Times, "I feel sick."
Other witnesses said Brown saw the bodies on the sidewalk and walked away. The police did apprehend the 27-year-old, who was charged with driving while intoxicated and marijuana possession. According to a Gristedes employee who spoke to the Times, "He had been a carpenter and maintenance worker for the Gristedes supermarket chain for at least two years, and was taking the van home for the weekend to respond to emergency call." Gristedes spokesman Rob Ryan gave a statement to the Post, "What happened today was a tragedy... Our thoughts and prayers are with all those involved in the incident, their families and their friends."
Katsiambanis is in stable condition at a hospital. Yesterday was also Ramos' third anniversary with her husband Renaldo Ramos. He told reporters, "She was full of love, she refused to see the glass half-empty and she always filled up my cup when I saw it half-empty."
Update: Brown was also charged with manslaughter and felonious assault.
