"I've known him his whole life. A very good kid,” Frank Mingione, 60, a neighbor said. “Never caused any trouble as far as I know. He's a very hard worker. He's always been a good person."
“He's very nice, a good kid. Very respectful,” said another neighbor who identified herself as Eleni. "He helps me with my grocery bags. I never see him drinking, you can tell."
His white Nissan Altima was racing against another vehicle before jumping the curb in a horrifying mix of screeching brakes and twisted metal, an eyewitness said.
This crash occurred in the 9th Precinct, where officers issued 11 speeding tickets in all of 2012. To voice your concerns about neighborhood traffic safety directly to Deputy Inspector John G. Cappelmann, the commanding officer, go to the next precinct community council meeting. The 9th Precinct council meetings happen on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the precinct, 321 E. 5th Street. Call 212-477-7805 for information.
The City Council district where this crash occurred is represented by Rosie Mendez. Since March 2012, at least seven pedestrians and cyclists have been killed by motorists in Mendez’s district, including three people in 2013. To encourage Mendez to take action to improve street safety in her district and citywide, contact her at 212-677-1077 or @RosieMendez.
Witnesses say fire hydrant, trees, bikes, store front taken out when car jumps curb. Updates: http://t.co/Sfr8iuiflH pic.twitter.com/LFNtt3MPhu
— MyFoxNY.com (@MyFoxNY) June 19, 2013
#BreakingNews horrific accident in #East Village. Car jumps curb. Injures 8 @evgrieve pic.twitter.com/RVUtAurWhx
— Lisa Colagrossi (@LColagrossi7) June 19, 2013
MANHATTAN: U/D - DRIVER OF CAR THAT STRUCK 8 PEDESTRIANS EARLY THIS MORNING AT 2ND AVE & 4TH STREET ARRESTED FOR DWI! @DNAinfo #911BUFF
— 911 Operator (@911BUFF) June 19, 2013
East Village car wreck scene on 2nd Ave/4th St as of 11:45am pic.twitter.com/ydyLTZmSbt
— JwalkinNYC (@JwalkinNYC) June 19, 2013
"They were racing each other - that's what happened," Alvraro Alban, 38, told the Daily News. "I saw them race right past me. This stupid thing of who's going to take the next 10 blocks faster."
Witnesses say the driver was going 80 mph and weaving in and out of traffic minutes before the crash.
The Altima was "weaving in and out of traffic," said Alban, who estimated the two cars were flying at about 80 mph. "That's probably how he lost control. They weren't driving straight."
Neighbors in the area tell NY1 they were particularly concerned for the three workers injured at the corner store which they describe as being a neighborhood institution.
"The whole neighborhood is out here wanting to know how people are," said one East Village resident.
"I know the guy too, the flower guy who has been working there for about 20 years, so I hope he's alright," noted a second East Village resident.
Name: Yadi Maria
Occupation: Student/Waitress
Location: 2nd Street between Avenue A and B
Time: 3 pm Friday, June 14
I’ve been here since I was 4 years old. I’m 22 now. I grew up on 3rd and C, although I took a short 5-year break, when we moved to Danbury, Connecticut. I guess you could say those were the most important years of my adolescence — from 6th grade to sophomore year, but then I came back because it was just too quiet.
I’m a student at BMCC at the moment. I’m studying business administration. I’m actually looking for jobs. I usually hostess in the neighborhood at diners and bars and places like that. I’m also developing my own online vintage clothing website. It’s going to be solely online. That’s what I’m working on now.
It’s fun waitressing around here although it’s not the same as living here and just walking the streets. A lot of people come to the Lower East Side to eat, to party, and to bar hop so you meet a whole bunch of different people from outside of the neighborhood. It’s different from the people you see living here. This is the place to be. It’s very interesting to walk down just one block. I like to walk around the entire Lower East Side and explore the nooks and crannies. You always find some place new no matter how long you’ve lived here for.
I loved growing up here and I love it here. The neighborhood is very diverse and very inspiring. There are people from all over the world with different styles, different everything, and a lot of energy. We’re different from everyone else. For example, my boyfriend is from Queens and over there I guess you could say they’re more tight-knit. They’re not as social as we are here in the Lower East Side. There are open personalities here. A lot of my friends from Queens and Brooklyn, they’re not like that. They see me talking to people all over the place and they’re like, ‘how do you do that?’ That’s just how it is over here. And they say, ‘Well it’s not like that where we live.’
My family is Dominican. My mom is a single mom. She raised 4 kids on her own. I’m the youngest one, the baby. My oldest brother is 33. We came here from the Bronx actually. Things got rough with my father, so my older brother took it into his own hands to move my mother away from him. And my father ended up getting deported, so we’re free from his craziness. I didn’t really know him though.
My oldest brother is my father figure. I don’t know anything other than the Lower East Side, but my brother tells me that we have it so much better here than he did growing up in the Bronx. That was the South Bronx in the 1980s. He used to tell me crazy stories about that. We moved here because it was a nice area. The Lower East Side, if you know the history of it, there’s a history of immigrants coming to this area. It was known for that. He did his research and came to visit a couple of times and he liked it. He felt like this would be a good place for his younger siblings to grow up. Also, the schools are good. I mean, they have their flaws but they’re good enough, especially compared to where he came from.
We’re close knit and very family oriented. We like to hang out together, barbecue, go out to the park and just do family things. For Father’s Day we’re all going to go out to watch a Mets game.
This prime East Village asset is comprised of two adjoined mixed use walk-up apartment buildings, with a combined 35.5’ of frontage on First Avenue. The basement and first floors are occupied by 3 unique retail stores. The 176 First Ave building, has rail road style one bedroom apartments on the second, third and fourth floors with east and west exposure. The 174 First Ave building, has rail road style one bedroom apartments on the second and third floors with east and west exposure.
There are not many Pasticceria and Caffe's that can actually claim four continuous generations of friendly, family service. Our family tradition has survived through all types of conditions such as World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the fabulous Fifties, the Vietnam War, the recession of the 70's, the boom of the 80's ... With hard work, a determination to provide the finest pastries, cakes and desserts and your patronage, we will continue into the 21st Century.
[2008]COMMENTS
Dense residential neighborhood
Visible from Houston Street
Space can be easily vented
Interior features rustic brick walls
Selling Lower Level may be possible
Previous tenant had a Liquor License
Tenant Allowance available to finish Basement
Currently they are open 11-4 for lunch and coffee, and then at 6pm they switch over to a bar menu, offering an expansive array of Japanese beers and sakes alongside a selection of small plates. I talked to to Sakura Yagi, Mr. Yagi’s daughter, and she said that they are planning on incorporating a morning service of coffee and breakfast fare, including the classic kissaten “Morningu Setto” of an egg, small salad, and thick slices of Japanese style “pan” toast.
Last night ConEd did below-street level work until 3 AM at 14th and Ave C. Tonight they have been jackhammering for a full hour from 8 to 9 PM. It's so loud my daughter is crying!
This street work started several days ago. It always begins around 8 or 9 PM and then goes on for hours and hours.
Residents are beside themselves. We can't sleep, we can't function in our homes due to constant ear-splitting noise.
The Halal Guys are excited to announce that our new location in Manhattan will be in the East Village. Keep an eye out for further details.
— THE HALAL GUYS (@HalalGuys) June 18, 2013
