Chef cleared in cabbie’s death after hockey stick fight, crash

NEW YORK — Manhattan prosecutors have dropped charges against a pedestrian accused of causing the death of a 68-year-old livery driver following a traffic altercation. Prosecutors say the medical examiner’s office concluded the victim had underlying medical problems that caused his death in November 2017.

Police had initially arrested Kohji Kosugi, a Manhattan chef, on a manslaughter charge. He was accused of striking Randolph Tolk in the head with a hockey stick during a confrontation at a crosswalk.

Tolk, of West New York, New Jersey, returned to his vehicle, drove for several blocks before crashing. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Kosugi’s attorney, David Jeffries, told the New York Post his client remains “devastated by the loss of life” and is fully aware of how difficult it is for the victim’s family.