Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr.  announced July 9 the indictment of Bronx man, Robert Koch, 26, for allegedly driving northbound in the southbound lane of the West Side Highway in Manhattan while drunk, crashing into an Uber and killing 65-year-old passenger Ada Rivero in May 2026.

 

Koch is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of manslaughter in the second degree, two counts of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, among other charges.

 

“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,” said Bragg. “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. My thoughts are with Ms. Rivero’s loved ones who are mourning her devastating loss.”

 

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record, on May 3, at around 3.30 a.m., Koch left an event in Times Square and walked to his car on West 51st Street.

 

Koch drove to West 57th Street, where he entered the southbound lane of the West Side Highway while driving northbound. After avoiding multiple collisions with cars travelling the correct direction, Koch collided head-on with an Uber driver and his passenger near West 72nd Street.

 

Both the driver and passenger were unable to exit the Uber vehicle until FDNY extracted them. Koch was pulled out of the driver’s seat of his vehicle by an eyewitness. All three sustained injuries from the collision and were taken to local hospitals. The Uber passenger, Ada Rivero, was pronounced dead that same morning at 6:36 a.m. as a result of multiple blunt force injuries she sustained in the collision.

 

Assistant D.A. Marit DeLozier (Trial Bureau 50) is handling the prosecution of this case with Assistant D.A. Maureen Duda (Trial Bureau 30) under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Jessica Lynn (Chief of Trial Bureau 50) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).

 

Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Ramon Pina from Highway Criminal Intelligence Section, for his work on the investigation.

 

Koch is charged with one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, a class B felony,  one count of manslaughter in the second degree, a class C felony, two counts of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, a class D felony, one count of assault in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count of aggravated driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor, and one count of driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor.

 

The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and Koch is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.