BROOKLYN — The drunk New Jersey driver who killed a mother by launching her off the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Monday had a blood alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit, prosecutors said.
Vladimir Menin, 43, who had a suspended license while speeding his BMW west on the expressway about 2:48 a.m., swerved around a car before slamming into a broken down Chevy on the side of the road near Apollo Street, according to the NYPD and Brooklyn District Attorney.
Aissatou Diallo, 49, who had stepped out of the Chevy when it got a flat tire, was hit by Menin's BMW and flung onto the street below, officials said.
Diallo, who had her 16-year-old son in the car with her, was pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital, police said.
Menin tried to flee the scene and slammed into a Toyota, officials said.
Eight people from both the Chevy and the Toyota were taken to Elmhurst for observation, police said.
After the crash, Diallo's son ran over and spat in Menin's face, he told DNAinfo New York.
"He's pathetic," the grieving teen said.
Police officer Konstantin Genin gave Menin a portable breathalyzer test which showed the driver had a blood alcohol level of .19 percent, which is more than twice the legal limit drivers can have behind the wheel.
Menin's eyes were bloodshot and watery, he reeked of booze, his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet, according to NYPD officer Donald Frost.
When police tried to cuff him, Menin started flailing his arms and refused to be handcuffed, prosecutors said.
Menin, of Fort Lee, was treated at Woodhull Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition, police said.
He was arrested and charged with manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and driving without a license, authorities said.
He was arraigned Monday and held on $500,000 bail, according to court records. He's due back in court on Friday.
Menin, who has a valid New Jersey license, wasn't legally allowed to drive in New York because he'd failed to pay a fee, prosecutors said.
