'There's No Way To Tell A 7-Year-Old Girl You're Never Going To See Your Dad Again': Young Father Killed In Bronx Hit-And-Run
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A pedestrian died after he was struck by two vehicles in the Concourse section of the Bronx, and now police are searching for one of the drivers who they said fled the scene.
Gabriel Garcia, 28, of the Bronx, was crossing the street at East 138th Street and Walton Avenue around 10:30 p.m. Monday when police said a dark-colored sedan with TLC plates clipped him, knocking him to the roadway.
Witnesses say Garcia was in the crosswalk when he was struck.
Garcia was then run over by a second car, police said.
Garcia leaves behind a 7-year-old daughter, Gabriella.
"There's no way to tell a 7-year-old girl you're never going to see your dad again," Garcia's aunt Maria said. "Your dad is not there. Your dad is dead."
Police said initially the drivers of both vehicles stopped, but then took off. The driver of the second vehicle returned to the scene a short time later to speak to investigators, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported. Police are searching for the first vehicle.
"He was face down, bleeding and we were just basically calling the cops trying to get the ambulance," one witness said.
Garcia was rushed to Lincoln Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
"I ask the person who ran away, who did not stay at the accident, to come forward and let us know what happened," Maria said. "Why did he run? He should come forward and help the family. If you're not guilty, nothing to worry."
People familiar with the intersection told Burrell cars are known to speed in the area, making it a danger zone for pedestrians.
"Any time, when the light is green or red, you need to be very careful," one resident told Burrell.
Through their heartache, Garcia's family and neighbors are remembering him as a man they say lived to make his family smile.
"He wanted all the people to laugh all the time," Maria said.
Anyone with information is asked to call police.
