Driver Charged After Tourist Killed at Fifth Avenue Crosswalk
At 2:40 p.m. on Sept. 24, 2025, officials recorded a driver backing unsafely at East 40th Street and Fifth Avenue; police told CBS the driver was Mohamed Abouzaid, who reversed a minivan into a German couple, killing Alexandra Sabine Lewalter Maric.
What We Know
A woman pedestrian was killed and another pedestrian was injured at East 40th Street and Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan on Sept. 24, 2025. The official crash record says the pedestrian who died was crossing with the signal at the intersection and lists backing unsafely as a contributing factor. CBS, citing police, reported that Mohamed Abouzaid reversed a minivan at a high rate of speed while a married couple visiting from Germany had the right of way, pinning them against a box truck. CBS said Alexandra Sabine Lewalter Maric, 50, died at the scene and her husband was hospitalized with a fractured skull. The official record lists the backing vehicle as a Toyota SUV; NBC and CBS described it as a van or minivan.
Police said a driver reversed into pedestrians in the crosswalk
The crash happened at about 2:40 p.m. at East 40th Street and Fifth Avenue. The official record says a pedestrian at the intersection was crossing with the signal when she was killed and another pedestrian was injured.
CBS, citing police, reported that a driver reversed a minivan at a high rate of speed while a German couple had the right of way, pinning them against a box truck. NBC also reported that the driver left the scene after hitting two people near the New York Public Library.
A German tourist died and her husband was hospitalized
CBS identified the woman who died as Alexandra Sabine Lewalter Maric, 50, of Hamburg, Germany. CBS reported that her husband, 55, suffered a fractured skull and was hospitalized in stable condition.
NBC reported that the victims were German tourists walking near the New York Public Library. A worker at a nearby street stand told CBS, "It's very sad. People come to enjoy the city, to see New York, obviously vacation, and these things happen."
Records and news accounts describe the backing vehicle differently
The official crash record lists a westbound Toyota SUV backing before the crash and a box truck stopped in traffic. The SUV entry lists backing unsafely and failure to yield right-of-way; the box truck entry lists damage to the front.
News accounts described the backing vehicle as a van or minivan. CBS reported that police said the driver had the minivan in the crosswalk before reversing.
Police arrested a Bronx man and filed charges
CBS reported that police identified the suspect as Mohamed Abouzaid, 40, of the Bronx. Officers stopped him at West 38th Street and Eighth Avenue, and police later charged him with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and failing to yield to pedestrians.
NBC reported that law enforcement sources said the driver was tracked down a few blocks from the crash scene and taken into custody.
Where
E 40th St & 5th Ave, Manhattan