In November of 2014, a driver traveling at speeds in excess of 50 mph struck and killed 57-year-old Robert Perry, a frequent resident of the Bowery Mission. Today District Attorney Cy Vance announced the conviction of Danny Lin, the driver.
A jury found 25-year-old Lin of Brooklyn guilty of second degree manslaughter. In a statement, Vance said:
This case serves as an unfortunate reminder of the risks associated with reckless driving and speeding… Danny Lin was fully aware of those risks as he hurtled down the Bowery at more than double the speed limit and took an innocent man’s life. He endangered the lives of pedestrians and drivers alike as he continued barreling down the street—with no regard for our laws or the safety of his fellow New Yorkers—before eventually crashing into a hydrant on a congested sidewalk, narrowly missing several bystanders. Because of the defendant’s recklessness and disregard for human life, my Office has fought to hold him accountable and will seek significant penalties for his criminal conduct.
On Nov. 24, 2014, at about 7 p.m., Lin was traveling north on the Bowery when he hit Perry, who was crossing near Rivington Street. According to a press release from the DA’s office, the collision sent “the victim’s body into the air before landing more than 140 feet away.” Lin continued for about another block “before driving onto the sidewalk and crashing into a fire hydrant near several pedestrians.”
Lin will be sentenced Sept. 27. Following the accident, the Bowery Mission released a statement that read, in part:
The news may report that a “homeless man” was killed in a hit-and-run accident. It is true that Robert struggled with homelessness most of life, from the age of 12. Because he spent many days and nights at The Bowery Mission, we got to know Robert as a gifted man with a difficult story. Robert was a faithful participant in The Bowery Mission’s chapel services and activities. Most recently, Robert was a charter member of The Bowery Mission’s photography club, producing haunting photographs taken from his life’s perspective. In his artist’s statement, Robert reminded us, “I want people to hear my story, hear my cry… We are looked at like dirt, but we are somebody.”
Lin faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced.
