Jason Schaal, of Riverhead, gets 9 years for trying to kill woman with his car, ramming MTA bus in downtown Brooklyn, DA says

A Riverhead man was sentenced to 9 years in prison on Friday for attempting to kill a female pedestrian by intentionally striking her with his car and then ramming an MTA bus in broad daylight in downtown Brooklyn, prosecutors said.

Jason Schaal, 43, had pleaded guilty on July 25 to second-degree attempted murder.

"This was a chilling, premeditated attack on a woman simply walking down the street," said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. "The defendant used his car as a weapon and endangered dozens of other pedestrians on a busy street corner. Thanks to the quick actions of witnesses and court officers, he was stopped and is now being held accountable for this violent crime."

Schaal's Legal Aid attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

On Aug. 15, 2023, at 3:18 p.m., Schaal was driving a 2012 Toyota Prius on Willoughby Street when he turned sharply onto the sidewalk, striking a 38-year-old woman standing on the corner, prosecutors said.

Schaal continued driving erratically through the busy Brooklyn neighborhood, plowing into an MTA bus at the intersection of Boerum Place and Livingston Street, authorities said.

The Long Islander then exited his vehicle and attempted to flee, but he was apprehended by civilians and court officers stationed at Brooklyn Criminal Court, prosecutors said.

While in police custody, Schaal admitted to officers that he intentionally struck the victim and tried to flip over the bus, officials said.

The victim suffered cuts to her head and was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital for treatment.

The driver of the bus suffered neck and back pain and was treated at the same hospital.

There were no other injuries.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.