A man who turned down a six-month plea deal after cops said he drunkenly drove his car off a Queensboro Bridge ramp — killing a pedestrian and destroying two businesses — now faces up to 25 years in jail.
Grant Riddell, 38, has been indicted on charges of drunken driving, vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and vehicular assault in the March 28, 2011, accident — the first of two deadly car crashes off of the newly named Ed Koch Bridge.
Riddell’s car flew off the bridge’s exit ramp and slammed into Anthony Buscemi, who was walking on the sidewalk below.
His attorney entered a “not guilty” plea yesterday.
Buscemi, 68, was pronounced dead at a local hospital, and Riddell, a DJ who also goes by the name Kiwi, lost his left arm.
The crash also destroyed two businesses on Queens Plaza South — Villa De Beaute and Espinal’s Caribbean Restaurant.
The owners have filed a $1million lawsuit against Riddell and the city for the “poor construction” of the ramp. The suit is pending.