By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — A Bronx woman who allegedly ran down a retired nurse on an Upper West Side street before fleeing the scene has been indicted on manslaughter charges, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Jessica Altruz, 24, was allegedly "hellbent" on beating the yellow light at West 93rd Street and Columbus Avenue when she slammed on the gas pedal and drove her Dodge Charger into 67-year-old Margaret Fisher around 3 p.m. on Nov. 26, prosecutors said. Fischer had been heading home with her arms full of groceries, authorities said.
Prosecutors said Altruz knew her victim was there because witnesses heard her honking her horn before the crash. Fischer's body was knocked into the windshield and was thrown about 70 feet, prosecutors said. She was pronounced dead shortly afterward at St. Luke's Hospital.
"As she was speeding, she was honking the horn — literally — at the woman she was about to strike and kill," Assistant District Attorney Jordan Arnold said at Altruz' Supreme Court arraignment Tuesday.
A tearful Altruz pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter indictment charges Tuesday, an increase from her initial charges of leaving the scene of an accident. Prosecutors had asked for anyone who witnessed the crime to come forward in their search for more evidence.
Altruz was apprehended a block away from the crash at the next intersection.
"It was my light! It was my light!", she allegedly told police when she was caught at the corner of West 93rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue."Oh my God! Please just tell me that she didn't die," Altruz added, according to court papers.
Altruz has been held on $100,000 bail since her arrest. Her lawyer asked Supreme Court Judge Bonnie Wittner to lower the bail on Tuesday, adding that the crash was not intentional.
"As you can see she's incredibly distraught," lawyer Rebecca Kavanagh told the judge.
Neighbors described Fischer as a church-going volunteer who continued her career of helping others long after retiring from her job as a nurse.
"She made a career out of caring for strangers and she is dead because a stranger had nothing but disrespect for her life," prosecutor Jordan Arnold said.
Fisher's brother and sister-in-law, who were present at the arraignment, were quiet and tearful as they stepped into the elevator.
"Nothing good can come of this," said her sister-in-law, Helen.
Altruz faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. She is due back in court Feb. 27.
