Search Continues For Driver In Fatal Queens Hit-And-Run
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Monday are looking for a driver who they said killed a musician in a hit-and-run in Queens.
It happened early Sunday morning on 115th Avenue and 131st Street in South Ozone Park.
Surveillance video of the incident shows 43-year-old Doodnath Lalchan stumble and fall into the crosswalk, just after he begins to walk across 115th Avenue, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported.
Moments after falling, Lalchan appears to lift his head seconds before a car appears to run right on him. Soon after, police said a dark-colored SUV crushed Lalchan, killing him on impact, and pausing before driving off.
The video shows that it took nearly five minutes for anyone to come to Lalchan's aide. A different driver eventually pulled their vehicle in front of his body to protect him until police arrived.
A humble sidewalk memorial had been set up just steps from an electronic sign put up by police at the scene hoping for a break in the case.
"I've never seen anything happen like that," said nearby resident Dipchand Narine. "I've never seen anything like that before."
Friends of the Trinidadian native, who said he was a talented drummer, are now left struggling to understand how anyone could be so callous.
"He was good. He was the best drummer I ever saw out here in Queens," said friend Steve Seetaram.
"For you to leave a human being on the street to die, that's no heart," said friend Anil Raghoonanan. "That's being a coward."
People who live nearby say with an elementary school on the corner, better safety measures need to be in place.
"The fact that this block is the only block without traffic lights is crazy," said resident Joel Dejesus.
The NYPD is asking for the public to help in their search trying to locate the driver of that dark-colored SUV.
As police continue to collect details in this case, Lalchan's family in Trinidad is now preparing for his funeral.
