Driver Arrested for Fatal Collision in Greenwich Village

A driver from Greenwich Village has been arrested on murder charges after allegedly hitting and killing a 27-year-old Massachusetts transplant patient last year, just months before her wedding. Police reported that Gary Levinson, 62, was detained on Tuesday morning, facing charges of manslaughter and reckless driving stemming from a tragic incident on November 6 that claimed the life of Valerie Schork.

Authorities indicate that around 8:30 a.m., Schork was crossing Morton Street at the intersection with 7th Avenue South when Levinson, driving a 2020 GMC Savannah Van, reportedly hit her while turning left.

The young woman, who hailed from Cambridge and lived in the West Village, was hurried to Bellevue Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.

At the time, Levinson, who resided in the East Village, remained at the scene, and no charges were filed initially. However, further investigation revealed that he had been driving the wrong way when he struck Schork, who was legally crossing the street, according to police.

Levinson was arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday and was released on his own recognizance, with a court date set for April 8. Online records indicate that he does not have a prior arrest history.

Schork’s family expressed their devastation, noting she was engaged and had plans to marry in the upcoming summer. A family member named Carol shared her heartbreak, “We are all shocked, deeply saddened, and in disbelief. Her name is Valerie, and we were scheduled to get married in June. There are no words to express our sadness. She was an extraordinary, gorgeous young woman.”

Valerie’s fiancé, Ross Barlow, chose not to comment when approached by a reporter at her residence back in November.