The Bronx driver who went on a 14-block road rampage that led to the death of a father helping his son across the street will spend a year in state prison for nearly every block of mayhem he left in his wake.
Mark St. Pierre, 39, copped a plea to manslaughter and other charges in exchange for a prison sentence of between 10 to 15 years for the deadly July 12, 2009 smashup on Gun Hill Road.
The handcuffed St. Pierre hung his head and stared at the defense table inside Bronx Criminal Court yesterday as he admitted striking Miguel Colon, 36, with such force the father, who shoved his 6-year-old son out the path of the car, flew about “90 feet in the air,” Assistant DA Lawrence Piergrossi said.
The deadly chain of events began at a Chuck E. Cheese parking lot in the Baychester section of the Bronx, where St. Pierre argued with and then assaulted the mother of his 3-year-old daughter, who at the little girl’s birthday celebration.
The woman fled and St. Pierre got into his 2008 Infiniti and barreled down Gun Hill Road at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour.
St. Pierre smashed into a half dozen parked cars along with five other drivers who got in his way.
Colon was helping his son, Sebastian, push a bike with training wheels across Gun Hill Road near Knapp Street, when St. Pierre in attempt to avoid traffic, crossed the double yellow lines and was going against traffic when his car plowed into the father of two boys who was in the cross walk.
Lourdes Roman, 34, the mother of Colon’s 15 year old son, said little Sebastian, now 9, still suffers from nightmares and is still seeing a counselor. “It has affected him greatly – it’s been difficult for him to even talk about what happened,” she said.
Wiping away tears, Colon’s younger brother said, “Maybe one day I’ll forgive him, but right now I can’t.”
St. Pierre faced between 45 years to life in prison, according to Supreme Court Justice Darcel Clark said.
He also pled guilty to six counts of assault and fleeing the scene of accident.
St. Pierre’s lawyer, Karen Charrington, told the court that his client is remorseful.
“The defendant wants to express his deepest condolence and regrets – he deals with this everyday and he can’t get it out of his mind,” she said.
St. Pierre will be sentenced Aug. 1 where several member of Colon family including his son, Sebastian, are expected to address the court.