DA VANCE: DRIVER SENTENCED TO 1 1/3-TO-4 YEARS FOR DEADLY TRIBECA HIT-AND-RUN
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the sentencing of SAMUEL SILVA, 27, to 1 1/3-to-4 years in state prison for striking and killing a 30-year-old bicyclist with his truck while under the influence of alcohol. On January 30, 2017, the defendant pleaded guilty to Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, Criminally Negligent Homicide, and Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol.
“Fleeing the scene of a crash is not only illegal; it’s an act of cowardice,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance. “Samuel Silva’s negligence killed a woman—a newlywed and a triathlete— in the prime of her life, and gravely endangered countless other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. I would like to thank the quick-thinking bystander and off-duty MTA officer who sprang into action in the immediate aftermath of the collision, calling for back-up and canvassing the area until he found the driver. Their actions were truly heroic and led to the defendant’s apprehension.”
As admitted in the defendant’s guilty plea, at approximately 7:50 p.m. on June 11, 2016, SILVA was driving a Ford pickup truck southbound on West Street when he turned right onto Chambers Street, struck a 30-year-old bicyclist, then continued westbound. The force of the collision knocked the victim to the ground, and she later died from her injuries.
A bystander took a photograph of the truck’s New Jersey license plate and shared it with an off-duty MTA police officer, who arrived shortly after the incident. The officer then called for assistance and canvassed the area until authorities apprehended the defendant at approximately 8:00 p.m. on North End Avenue near Warren Street. At the time of SILVA’s arrest, police observed that he had been under the influence of alcohol.
Assistant District Attorneys Jung Park and Maria Strohbehn handled the prosecution of the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Jill Hoexter, Chief of the Vehicular Crimes Unit, Assistant District Attorney Lanita Hobbs, Chief of Trial Bureau 80, and Executive Assistant District Attorney John Irwin, Chief of the Trial Division.
District Attorney Vance also thanked Detective Peter Jarvis of the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad; Officer Wenming Wu of NYPD’s 1st Precinct; Officer Otis Noboa of the MTA Police; and Officer Jonathan Cheung of PAPD for their assistance with the case.
Defendant Information:
SAMUEL SILVA, D.O.B. 12/29/1989
Newark, NJ
Convicted:
• Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, Resulting in
Death, a class D felony, 1 count
• Criminally Negligent Homicide, a class E felony, 1 count
• Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol,
an infraction, 1 count
Sentenced:
• 1 1/3-to-4 years in prison
• 90-day driver’s license suspension