A 36-year-old pedestrian was killed early Saturday morning after being struck and dragged by an SUV on York Avenue, with the driver fleeing the scene before being arrested hours later, according to the NYPD.
Catch Up Quick: Police responded to a 911 call at York Avenue and East 72nd Street at approximately 5:03 a.m. Saturday, per detectives. The NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad determined that a 2021 Toyota RAV4 operated by a 71-year-old man was traveling southbound in the right lane when it struck a pedestrian crossing mid-block outside the marked crosswalk.
Zoom In: The victim, identified as James Mossetty, 36, was knocked down and lodged beneath the vehicle’s undercarriage, police say. He was dragged until being dislodged on the lower level of the Queensboro Bridge. Mossetty sustained severe head and body trauma and was transported by EMS to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, cops explained.
What’s New: The driver did not remain at the scene but was later identified and arrested Saturday evening at 8:10 p.m., the NYPD notes. Abdul Hakim, 71, of Queens, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
The Big Picture: The fatal hit-and-run highlights ongoing pedestrian safety concerns on Upper East Side streets, particularly when crossings occur outside designated areas.
What’s Next: The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the fatal collision, the NYPD states.
