Man crashes trying to mow down wife as their children sat in car, crawls out of vehicle to stab her
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion advised
QUEENS, NEW YORK: An enraged Queen's driver was arrested after he allegedly mowed down his wife, using his family SUV with his three children inside; despite the car flipping with the kids inside, Stephen Giraldo crawled out of the car and stabbed his critically injured wife in the stomach, leaving her fighting for life, according to police.
Giraldo, an MTA bus driver, was caught on surveillance footage speeding east down Parsons Blvd with his three young boys in his 2005 Ford Explorer. He then struck his 41-year-old wife and mother of the children, Sophia Giraldo about 5:20 am on Tuesday, December 27, near Franklin Avenue in Flushing, reported New York Daily News. As the tragic incident unfolded, 36-year-old Giraldo subsequently struck a fence which caused his car to overturn, landing on its side half in front of a home's driveway. Reportedly, the husband then got out of the SUV and stabbed his wife in the abdomen.
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Sophia was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens in critical condition. It is believed the mother of three suffered severe trauma to her body and life-threatening injuries. Fortunately, the young boys inside the family SUV aged, 11, 9 and 6 were not injured. Giraldo was allegedly taken into custody and charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child, cops said.
The injured victim Sophia runs a life-coaching business for women. The 41-year-old is known to have discussed her battle with a “relationship filled with abuse and betrayal” on podcasts, reported New York Post. A neighbor at Sophia's apartment near the scene of the crash said the mother of the three is always with her children and is a very nice person. She is “always with her three children,” Irina Lyon said.
“She’s a very nice person,” she added saying, “She’s a nice mother. She goes to work, she goes church every day.” In a statement, the MTA said the 36-year-old suspect Giraldo is suspended without pay, pending the completion of an investigation, reported the source. Cops said Giraldo's motive behind the cruel attack toward his wife Sophia was due to a domestic dispute.