Police: Ossining Town Justice Candidate Killed by Alleged Drunk Driver
A candidate running for Ossining town justice was killed Tuesday night on Route 9A by a drunk driver as he was crossing the roadway to put up campaign signs, according to police.
John Mangialardi, 55, of Briarcliff Manor, was struck and killed about 10:15 p.m. crossing 9A at the intersection of Route 134 by a Nissan Altima driven northbound by Michelle Sergio, 38, of Nanuet. She was charged with misdemeanor driving while intoxicated by Westchester County Police and is being held on $500,000 bond or $250,000 cash after being arraigned Wednesday morning in Ossining Town Court.
According to published reports, Mangialardi was not in the crosswalk when he was struck and Sergio and another driver said they did not see him. The roadway reopened Wednesday morning just before 7 a.m.
A defense lawyer, Mangialardi ran unsuccessfully for town justice in 2011. He was running this year as a Republican/Conservative against Democratic incumbent Town Justice Nancy Quinn Koba and the two were slated to run in an Independence Party primary on September 10.
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino said Mangialardi was a personal friend who “will be greatly missed and always remembered.”
“I was deeply saddened this morning to learn of the passing of John Mangialardi. John was a talented attorney, an aspiring public servant, a devoted husband, father, and my personal friend. He also served his community and his country with distinction as a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard,” Astorino said. “The news of John’s death is especially difficult given the alleged involvement of a drunk driver. My heart and prayers go out to the Mangialardi family as they begin to deal with this senseless tragedy. I offer them my sincerest condolences and pledge my continuing efforts to combat the epidemic of drunk driving that has claimed too many of our better souls, like John.
Mangilardi is survived by his wife, Arlene, and two daughters, Katie, 19, and Linlee, 10.
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