Drunken Driver Who Killed NYC Cyclist is Guilty of Manslaughter

NEW YORK (AP) -- A man who mistook a bike path for Manhattan's West Side Highway and fatally struck a cyclist while driving drunk last year pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree manslaughter.

Eugenio Cidron, 28, pleaded guilty in exchange for a sentence of  three-and-half to 10-and-half years in prison. If Cidron had been convicted after trial, he would have faced a sentence of five to 15 years.

State Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro scheduled sentencing for Jan. 3. He allowed Cidron, of Queens, to remain free on $150,000 bail, secured by his mother-in-law's home.

Cidron hit Eric Ng the night of Dec. 1, 2006, near West Street and Clarkson. Cidron was driving his BMW driving south on the path as Ng rode uptown, police said. Ng, 22, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Cidron's blood alcohol level was 0.16, twice the legal limit for being intoxicated, police said.

Cidron's lawyer, Brendan Chao, said his client, a middle manager in a copying company, pleaded guilty because he has two children and wants to see them again before they finish high school.

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