NYC Driver Charged with Homicide in Death of Bride-to-Be

A 62-year-old New York City man has been arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless driving in connection with the death of Valerie Schoeck, a 27-year-old woman who was struck by a vehicle while crossing a West Village street in November 2025. The tragedy occurred just months before Schoeck was scheduled to marry.

Details of the Incident

Gary Levinson was taken into custody on Tuesday morning, February 24, 2026, and formally charged in Manhattan Supreme Court, according to police reports and court records New York Daily News. The incident took place on November 6, 2025, at approximately 8:30 a.m. At the intersection of Morton Street and Seventh Avenue South.

Police say Levinson was driving a 2020 GMC Savanna van the wrong way in traffic when he struck Schoeck as she was crossing Morton Street in a marked crosswalk Yahoo News. Schoeck, originally from Cambridge, Massachusetts, had recently moved to the West Village.

Victim’s Background and Plans

Valerie Schoeck was preparing to marry her fiancé, Ross Barlow, in June 2026. The couple had planned a safari honeymoon in Africa, with a stay at Angama Mara, reflecting Schoeck’s lifelong love for animals New York Daily News. A GoFundMe campaign established in her memory raised $41,000 for an African wildlife conservancy.

Investigation and Charges

Following the collision, Schoeck was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, but could not be saved. Levinson remained at the scene and was initially not charged. However, a subsequent investigation determined he was driving against the flow of traffic at the time of the impact Yahoo News.

Levinson was arraigned on an indictment and released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to return to court on April 8, 2026 New York Daily News. Police records indicate he has no prior arrests.