Man Killed in Bay Ridge – Road Rage
Around 9:15 pm, an altercation happened on 65th Street and Third Avenue because of a prior incident at Costco.
Gavriel Mardaknayevy, 65 and his wife had been shopping at Costco on 2nd Avenue and 37th Street in Sunset Park. Gavriel Mardaknayevy saw their car was hit by a white construction company van. The Markdaknayevy’s got into their car quickly and followed the 2012 white van down Third Avenue into Bay Ridge. David Cruz was the 55-year-old van driver (picture here).
At the intersection of 65th Street and Third Avenue, Gavriael Mardaknayevy got out of his vehicle and argued with Cruz (source). Mardaknayevy yelled “You hit me…..Hold on.” (source) Mardaknayevy walked in front of the van (source) to stop it from leaving the scene.(source) Cruz accelerated in the van. The white van hit Madaknayevy and dragged his body for two blocks from 65th to 67th Street on Third Avenue (as Mrs. Mardaknayevy watched…..OMGG how awful. RIP Gavriel Madaknayevy). A dashcam captured the whole scene (video can be seen here – the white van swerves away).
A good Samaritan, Michael Othman blocked the white van with his grey minivan. He got Cruz to get out of his van, grabbed him, threw him on the wall like a cop. Othman said to Cruz: “What did you do?” “Don’t move. Are you crazy? You have a dead body under the van!” (source) A Bay Ridge resident said they heard someone say, “We are not going to let you go, you hit someone.” The police came handled Cruz. Othman consoled Mrs. Madaknayevy.
Gavriael Mardaknayevy was pinned under the car. The firefighters from Ladder 109 on 66th Street (and 3rd Avenue) ran to the scene and lifted the vehicle. Mr. Mardaknayevy was rushed to Lutheran Hospital in an ambulance, but he didn’t survive. RIP :( This is so sad. Mardaknayevy is from West Brighton.
Cruz is in police custody. Cruz was arrested and had a blood alcohol level of 0.109 percent four hours later, according to a criminal complaint. (source) The legal standard for drunken driving in New York is 0.08 percent. On Friday, November 10th, he was charged with second degree murder, drunk driving and reckless driving. (source) Cruz has a clean driving record and is a former marine.
Cruz is out on jail on $50K bail (source)
Story here, here and here **GRAPHIC Pictures ** after the scene here, here and here
RIP Gavriel Madaknayevy….this should never have happened. Prayers for Gavriael’s wife of five years and Gavriael’s 17 year old daughter.
Hugs,
marlene
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