Wrong-Way Drunk Driver Indicted In Fatal West Side Highway Uber Crash: DA

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A Bronx man has been indicted on homicide charges after prosecutors say he drove drunk the wrong way on the West Side Highway and slammed head-on into an Uber, killing a 65-year-old passenger on the Upper West Side.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Wednesday that Robert Koch, 26, was indicted on charges including aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter and two counts of second-degree vehicular manslaughter in connection with the May 3 crash.

According to prosecutors, Koch left an event in Times Square at about 3:30 a.m. and walked to his car on West 51st Street before driving to West 57th Street, where he allegedly entered the southbound lanes of the West Side Highway while traveling northbound.

After narrowly avoiding multiple vehicles, Koch allegedly crashed head-on into an Uber carrying driver and passenger Ada Rivero, 65, near West 72nd Street.

"Robert Koch allegedly crashed into an Uber as he was driving in the wrong direction on the West Side Highway, tragically cutting short the life of the passenger, Ada Rivero," Bragg said in a statement. "To anyone who is even considering getting behind the wheel while under the influence, don't — you will be prosecuted. Driving while intoxicated is not just risky, it is all-too-often deadly."

The Uber driver and Rivero were trapped inside the vehicle until FDNY crews extricated them, according to prosecutors. An eyewitness pulled Koch from his own vehicle.

All three were taken to local hospitals with injuries. Rivero died later that morning at 6:36 a.m. from multiple blunt force injuries suffered in the crash, prosecutors said.

Koch is charged with one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of second-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree vehicular manslaughter, one count of third-degree assault, one count of aggravated driving while intoxicated, and one count of driving while intoxicated.

This is a developing story and will be updated. For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.