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Driver Still on the Run in Hit-and-Run of Traffic Agent

THE 52ND PRECINCT sets up a perimeter at East Gun Hill Road and Putnam Place soon after the hit and run incident April 22.  Photo by David Greene
THE 52ND PRECINCT sets up a perimeter at East Gun Hill Road and Putnam Place soon after the hit and run incident April 22.
Photo by David Greene

By DAVID GREENE

Police are looking for the driver who ran over a 24-year-old NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent and sped away, fleeing down East Gun Hill Road last week.

Police officers from the 52nd Precinct and paramedics were called to 275 East Gun Hill Road at Putnam Place at 11:59 a.m., on Thursday, April 23.

According to the FDNY, paramedics arrived in four-minutes and transported the victim to Jacobi Hospital, who was listed in serious condition.

According to one NYPD source, “The on-duty traffic agent was crossing the street in the crosswalk, when he was struck by an unknown vehicle, a blue Dodge minivan. The vehicle ran a red light and struck the pedestrian.”

Despite claims from witnesses at the scene that one individual shot a photo and another a video of the striking vehicle, officials say they have no such evidence at this time.

One witness said, “The guy drove away… he hit him and kept going. I saw him laying on the ground and it looked like he had a broken arm and broken leg.”

According to the victim’s brother who is also an NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent, the Parkchester resident is recuperating after having a metal rod inserted into his leg, a broken arm as well as internal injuries.

The accident took place across the street from Maria’s Laundromat, where on the opposite side of East Gun Hill Road Putnam Place was recently designated a “slow zone,” with the posted speed limit now 20 miles-per-hour.

According to the brother, the agent was not writing tickets and was simply crossing East Gun Hill Road at the time of the crash.

The NYPD’s Crash Investigation Unit of the Highway Patrol continues to investigate the incident.

 

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