Senior dies week after street spat

An elderly man died a week after hitting his head on a sidewalk during a clash with a motorist over a Brooklyn parking space, sources said Wednesday.

Jose Vera, 80, was knocked to the ground on Hanson Place and South Elliott Place, down the block from his home in Clinton Hill, about 8:10 p.m. Aug. 26. He suffered serious trauma to the back of his head.

Medics rushed Vera to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he died Saturday.

Aristidez Perez, 41, was arrested just after the incident and charged with assault, menacing and harassment. Five days after his arrest, he was released on $100,000 bail.

Vera’s son Danny said his father survived cancer only to be browbeaten by a bully.

“Right now, I have anger,” said Danny Vera, 47. “He was a cancer survivor . ... To lose his life over a parking spot . ... He’s going to face justice. If it’s not going to be through the courts, it’s going to be through God.”

On Wednesday, cops classified Vera’s death as a homicide. Perez, who lives on the Lower East Side and is due back in court Oct. 29, could face upgraded charges.

Sources said the two men were fighting over a parking spot when Perez shoved Vera to the ground.

“It’s a one-punch homicide,” a source said, using the term to describe a fatal blow that is typically prosecuted as a misdemeanor state law.

“This guy pushed the victim to the ground and he hit his head, and that led to his demise,” the source added. “But all the suspect did was push him.”

Vera was taken off life support after being declared brain dead.

It was not clear if a grand jury will approve homicide a charge.

Danny Vera said his dad loved being with his family and going to the race track.

“He didn’t really smoke. He didn’t really drink. His form of pleasure was going to the race track.”