Pedestrian Killed after Tripping and Falling while Running Across 4th Avenue

By Yehudit Garmaise

On Saturday night, 66-year-old Jose Hernandez was struck by a car as he was lying on the ground after tripping and falling while running across 4th Avenue at 59th Street in Sunset Park, surveillance videos showed.

Sadly, Hernandez lay on the ground unattended for several minutes after he collapsed. A few minutes later, a driver, who did not appear to see him in the dark night, struck Hernandez, causing his death, before continuing to drive away.

Police have identified the 54-year-old male driver, whose name was not released, after he hit Hernandez, whom the driver likely did not see. 

The NYPD is investigating whether the driver was able to spot Hernandez lying on the ground after he had collapsed on the street. Charges against the driver have not been filed.

After the driver realized with horror that he had hit someone, emergency services were called, and Hernandez was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died.

“He was a very nice guy, a very good guy,” said Hernandez’s friend Tina Chen, who sadly said she had just seen him hours before the accident took place. “He helped everybody.”