A young Bronx politician is lucky to be alive after the car he was driving flew off the elevated Bronx River Parkway and fell approximately 30 feet early Saturday morning.
Bronx Democratic Male District Leader Michael Robles lost control of his 2005 Acura at about 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 4. The vehicle hit a concrete median, swerved across the parkway, smashed through a chain link fence and took flight.
The car landed atop a pickup truck in the parking lot of the Police Department’s Transit District 12 headquarters at East 180th Street. Robles, 28, was reportedly in the midst of an argument with his 22-year-old female passenger just prior to the accident
Both individuals were taken to Jacobi Medical Center. Robles was released the same day. The hospital did not provide info on his passenger. Police do not suspect either drugs or alcohol were a factor, and no charges have been filed.
Robles got into Bronx politics as a protégé of current Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. He interned for Diaz when he was just 14 when the current BP was an assemblyman.
In May, 2009 the county Democratic committee elected Robles as district leader for the 85th Assembly District, which includes parts of Soundview and Hunts Point.
“He’s a good district leader who serves extremely well,” said Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who chaired the committee that elected Robles. “I’m just grateful that he and his passenger seem like they’re OK.”
A district leader’s responsibilities include getting out the vote during the election season, organizing petitions and building support for the Democratic Party in his or her area. Borough President Diaz held the job in the 85th district before Robles.
“He’s part of the generation that has made a lot of positive changes in the Bronx in the past couple of years, since Carl Heastie became county leader and Diaz became Borough President,” said Dinowitz.
A professional acquaintance who asked not to be named, called the district leader “A sweet, nice, decent guy.” He said the elevated stretch of the Bronx River Parkway always seemed dangerous.
“I’ve said to myself a million times that I’m surprised nobody has shot off that thing. It’s amazing that he’salright,” he said.
There’s no doubt that Robles feels the same way.
