What dad said to kids before mowing down their mom in the street - with them in back seat

A mother-of-three shared the struggles of her 'toxic' marriage just days before her husband allegedly ran her over then stabbed her three times in front of their three children.

Sophia Giraldo, 41, remains in a critical condition after Stephen Giraldo, 36, allegedly crashed into her with an SUV – after lying in wait with their three sons, aged six, nine and 11 in the car.

Footage of the horrific attack shows Giraldo, an MTA bus driver, allegedly waiting outside her home in Flushing, Queens, with his headlights on.

Police say she walked out of the property and towards the SUV at around 5.15am on Tuesday before Giraldo careered into her and then into the side of the building, as their children watched in horror.

Sophia Giraldo, 41, remains in a critical condition after Stephen Giraldo, 36, crashed into her with an SUV on Tuesday morning in Flushing, Queens

Footage of the horrific incident shows Giraldo, an MTA bus driver, waiting outside the building where his wife lived, with his headlights on 

Giraldo, pictured, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder

He allegedly told his children: 'Keep your seatbelt on,' before accelerating into his wife - with the car turning on its side.  

Giraldo then crawled out of the passenger side window of the car, and stabbed Sophia three times with a knife. 

She suffered severe neurological damage, broken bones in her leg, and a stab wound that punctured her liver. Authorities confirmed the children were not harmed in the crash.

Sophia has been taken to a nearby hospital, where she remains in a critical condition, and her husband was arrested at the scene.

The incident comes just days after Sophia, who describes herself as a 'survivor of Betrayal-Trauma & Abuse', spoke about her 'toxic' marriage on a podcast she hosts called 'Unfiltered and Free'.

She filed for divorce in August and ran a life-coaching business for women – openly discussing the breakdown of her marriage.

Giraldo today appeared in court charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Wearing a mask, he kept his head down as he was addressed by the judge and ordered to remain in prison.

Sophia ran a podcast called 'Unfiltered and Free' - describing herself as a 'survivor of Betrayal-Trauma & Abuse' - and spoke about her 'toxic' marriage 

His wife said that she knew first-hand about 'navigating a life turned upside down by a toxic relationship'

Giraldo got out of the car and stabbed Sophia three times, according to authorities, who confirmed that the children were not harmed in the crash

Sophia filed for divorce in August and ran a life-coaching business for women – openly discussing the breakdown of her marriage

His wife said that she knew first-hand about 'navigating a life turned upside down by a toxic relationship' during an episode on December 12.

She also discussed why she decided to end her marriage, saying: 'I was trying to figure out whether or not I was going to leave my marriage. I spent a long time in the thick of a lot of emotional unrest, a lot of toxicity, a lot of abuse.

'It was almost as if my brain was saying, "You got this, you got this, you got this." And I did have it.'

Sophia also said that the situation was 'really out of control' before adding 'something has got to shift'.

She said: 'I had three children, three boys, and I knew that it was never my intention for them to grow up in a single-parent home. That was never my intention.

She has discussed the troubled marriage in the podcast since October 26 – a month after filing for divorce – and recorded nine episodes

Sophia also said that the situation was 'really out of control' before adding 'something has got to shift'

Wearing a mask, the father-of-three kept his head down as he was addressed by the judge and ordered to remain in prison

'I always would think about my children and what was the best decision. Was this going to be the best decision for them?

'One of the things I thought was, you know, am I willing to let my children grow up in toxicity just so I can say that there's a male in the home?

'For me, it did wind up that I did exit my marriage and I actively trust that, you know what? God knows what's best for my children.'

She has discussed the troubled marriage in the podcast since October 26 – a month after filing for divorce – and recorded nine episodes.

Neighbors say that she lived in the building with her three children alone, after the couple split.

The MTA said Giraldo was being held out of service without pay, pending the outcome of the investigation.

District Attorney Katz said: 'The brutality of the attack, and the fact that it was committed in full view of the victim's three young children, stirs heartbreak and outrage in all of us. My thoughts are with the children.'