CLAREMONT — A horror show played out in the Bronx minutes after midnight Friday as a wild driver went on a rampage of destruction, fatally striking one man and taking off only to hit a rescue vehicle, near East 170th Street and the Grand Concourse, police and neighbors said.
Police arrested Richard Haberman, 37, of Armonk, on Saturday and charged him with vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, DWI and reckless driving.
"I heard the screeching, like, [made a noise like an car screeching to a halt], and then people started screaming," said Melissa Storm, 33, a full-time mother who lives nearby and heard the mayhem at 12:17 a.m. When the vehicle struck the man, she said, "It was a hard impact. When I heard that boom, my heart just dropped."
Juan Rivera-Quintana, 42, from Kingsbridge Heights, had been crossing the Grand Concourse along E. 170th Street, headed east to west, when Haberman, who police said was driving a 2011 Honda CRV and headed northbound, allegedly struck and killed him. Another man, 34, also crossing the street, was critically injured and brought to Lincoln Hospital, police said.
Leo Thomas, 22, a neighbor, said he saw the immediate aftermath. "I saw three, four cop cars on the corner with the lights going, but no sound," he said.
Rescuers arrived to find the two men lying on the ground in severe trauma, after they had been hit and Haberman's CRV had allegedly roared away up the Grand Concourse, police said.
Haberman fled the scene, cops said, and allegedly didn't stop until four blocks later, when he took a right turn and smashed into an emergency vehicle that was responding to the injuries, police said, on Mount Eden Avenue near Bronx Lebanon Hospital.
Neighbors said the busy intersection is vexing for pedestrians, who must cross up to seven lanes of traffic, including two median strips and three turning lanes, in order to get from one side of the Concourse to the other.
"That intersection is like a death trap," said Frost. "When I cross the street I get anxiety. You can't even cross because the taxis are always in a rush.
"I've seen accidents and people just leave. I see it all the time. They just run you over," Frost added.
Rivera-Quintana was immediately transported to Bronx Lebanon Hospital, but pronounced dead upon arrival, police said.
Haberman was arrested at the scene of the Mount Eden crash, and charged Saturday night.