Driver Fatally Hits Cyclist Suspected Of Breaking Into Car: NYPD

BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN — An SUV driver is facing murder charges for intentionally striking and killing a bicyclist he suspected of breaking into his vehicle, police said.

Korey Johnson, 41, is accused of speeding down Bushwick's Marcus Garvey Boulevard and crushing Donald Roberts, 47, into parked cars near the intersection of Broadway and Ellery Street around 6 a.m. Monday, police said.

Johnson, a Brownsville resident, was charged with murder and manslaughter Tuesday, police said.

EMS pronounced Roberts dead at the scene of the crash.

Johnson confronted the cyclist before the crash for attempting to break into his SUV, police said. The argument got violent and the cyclist allegedly slashed a woman with a screwdriver before fleeing the scene on his bike, police said.

Three parked cars were damaged when Johsnon's SUV collided into them, police said. The force of the crash caused the SUV to flip over onto its side in the middle of the street.

Monday's crash is the 20th time this year that a cyclist has died in a crash on New York City streets, double of last year's 10 cyclist deaths. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a $58.4 million "Green Wave" bike safety plan this year in response to the spike in cyclist deaths.

This story was updated Sept. 23 to identify Donald Roberts as the victim