What began as a quiet Sunday stroll turned into one of the most heartbreaking scenes the city has witnessed this year. A 60-year-old man was crossing the intersection of West 83rd Street and Amsterdam Avenue with his wife and grandchildren when a driver—distracted, speeding, and reportedly texting—ran a red light and struck him with devastating force.
Witnesses say the impact was so violent that screams from bystanders echoed down the block before the car even came to a stop.
But the shock was only beginning.
Because when emergency crews rushed to the scene, paramedics froze for a moment—recognizing the victim instantly.
The man critically injured on the pavement was Michael Leavitt, the father of rising political figure Karoline Leavitt, former congressional candidate and one of the most vocal young conservatives in the country.
A FAMILY OUTING TURNED TRAGEDY
According to surveillance footage reviewed by investigators, Michael Leavitt had been holding his youngest grandson’s hand as the family stepped into the crosswalk. The pedestrian light was green. Traffic had come to a full stop—except for one vehicle.
A silver sedan approached the intersection at what police estimate to be 45 mph, far above the 25 mph limit. Tire marks indicate the driver never touched the brakes before the collision.
“He didn’t slow down. He didn’t even look up,” said one eyewitness, her voice trembling as she recounted the moment. “The man didn’t stand a chance. His wife screamed his name over and over.”
New Yorkers immediately rushed forward—one person pulling the children back to the sidewalk, another calling 911, several kneeling beside the victim until emergency services arrived.
But the emotional impact of the scene intensified once paramedics retrieved identification from the victim’s pocket.
“WE NEED TO NOTIFY THE DAUGHTER”
One EMT, unable to hide his reaction, whispered to his partner:
“Oh my God… this is Karoline Leavitt’s father.”
Karoline, who was in New Hampshire attending a political event, received the news through an urgent call from authorities. Sources close to her say she broke down instantly, abandoning the stage mid-conversation and running toward her car.
“She was shaking,” said a local volunteer who witnessed the moment. “She didn’t talk. She didn’t breathe. She just said, ‘My dad… my dad…’ and left.”
A chartered plane was arranged to bring her to New York as fast as possible.
Her office released a short statement:
“Karoline is aware of the accident involving her father. She is traveling to New York now. We ask for privacy and prayers.”
THE DRIVER: 27 YEARS OLD, PHONE IN HAND
Police say the driver, identified as Ethan Cole, 27, admitted at the scene he was texting a friend while driving. Officers noted his phone was still illuminated on the center console showing an active messaging thread.
He is expected to face multiple charges, including:
Reckless driving
Failure to stop at a red light
Vehicular assault
Distracted driving resulting in critical injury
Neighbors describe Cole as “quiet” and “unremarkable,” yet investigators emphasize that his carelessness turned him into a danger capable of destroying lives in seconds.
“He kept saying ‘I didn’t mean to… I didn’t mean to…’ but that doesn’t matter,” said a police officer. “All he had to do was look up.”
MICHAEL LEAVITT: MORE THAN JUST A POLITICAL FATHER
While the public knows Karoline for her firebrand energy and media presence, fewer know the man behind her success: her father, a soft-spoken mechanic who worked 30 years at a local repair shop and raised his children with what one family friend described as “old-school kindness.”
Michael was known in his community for:
Fixing neighbors’ cars for free
Volunteering at a local shelter
Taking his grandkids fishing every summer
Always ending conversations with “Take care of your family”
“He never cared about politics, fame, or attention,” said childhood friend Tom Dwyer. “He cared about moments—about his kids having a good life.”
Residents of his hometown reported that when news of the accident reached New Hampshire, entire blocks turned their porch lights on in solidarity.
INSIDE THE HOSPITAL: A DAUGHTER’S BREAKDOWN
When Karoline arrived at Mount Sinai Hospital, she was seen rushing through the doors with security escort, visibly crying and unable to speak.
Sources say she collapsed into her mother’s arms upon entering the ICU.
“She kept repeating, ‘Dad, wake up… you promised you’d be here,’” said a hospital worker who asked to remain anonymous.
Doctors say Michael’s condition is extremely critical. The impact caused:
Multiple rib fractures
Severe internal bleeding
Traumatic brain injury
Two collapsed lungs
He was immediately placed on a ventilator. Surgeons worked through the night—seven hours of nonstop effort—to stabilize him.
The hospital released a statement:
“Mr. Leavitt is in critical condition. The next 48 hours will determine prognosis.”
A CITY REACTS — AND A POLITICAL STORM BUILDS
The incident has already triggered a wave of discussions across social media and news outlets. Not about politics—but about distracted driving, responsibility, and how quickly a careless moment can tear apart a family.
Several lawmakers, including those who often clash with Karoline publicly, offered condolences.
Even opponents expressed their sympathy:
“Whatever our political differences, no one deserves this pain.”
But underneath the public gestures lies a growing firestorm. Critics are demanding harsher punishments for distracted drivers. Activists are calling for traffic reforms and stricter law enforcement at high-risk intersections.
And supporters of Karoline have already begun holding candlelight vigils outside Mount Sinai.
THE FAMILY’S HEARTBREAKING STATEMENT
Late Monday morning, the Leavitt family released a deeply emotional message:
“Michael is a good man. A gentle man. A man whose life has been defined by love and service.
We ask for prayers. Nothing else.
We do not hate the driver.
But we beg the world: stop using your phone while driving.”
The last sentence has since gone viral, shared over 2.5 million times in 12 hours.
“HE WAS JUST TRYING TO CROSS THE STREET WITH HIS FAMILY”
Perhaps the most devastating detail of all is also the simplest:
Michael wasn’t alone.
He was holding his grandchild’s hand.
And according to witnesses, his last instinct before collapsing was to push the boy out of harm’s way.
“He saved that child,” said paramedic Andrew Flores. “If he hadn’t moved the kid, we’d be talking about two tragedies today.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Police confirm charges against Ethan Cole will likely escalate depending on Michael’s condition in the coming days.
Karoline is expected to remain at the hospital indefinitely.
And across New York tonight, the story serves as a brutal reminder of how fragile life is—and how one distracted moment can become a lifetime of consequences.
A neighbor who knew Michael since his twenties summed it up through tears:
“He survived hardship… he survived layoffs… he survived cancer ten years ago…
But this? This is different.
He just wanted a Sunday with his family.”
As of this hour, Michael remains in critical condition, surrounded by love, prayers, and a grief that is spreading far beyond one family—reaching into every home that has ever trusted a crosswalk, ever held a child’s hand, ever believed they would all make it safely to the other side.