Short summary: A driver rear-ended a 62-year-old livery driver's car on Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn, then fled after pulling off his own license plates so the car couldn't be traced. In New York, a case like this generally can still move forward through a special fund called MVAIC, even if the driver is never found.
Police say it happened just after midnight on Sunday near the Midwood and Gravesend border.
A black Audi was heading south on Ocean Parkway when it slammed into the back of a Toyota Camry. The impact sent the Camry spinning into a Toyota RAV4. The Camry's driver, a 62-year-old man who worked as a livery driver, was taken to Maimonides Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The Audi's driver got out, removed the car's plates, and left. Witnesses say he climbed into a second car with at least two other men and drove off. Police are still looking for him.
Why Removing the Plates Matters
Taking the plates is not a small detail.
It's an attempt to make sure the car, and the person driving it, can never be traced back to this crash.
New York now runs a public alert system that is supposed to push out hit-and-run details within 24 hours when someone is killed or seriously hurt. It exists because a large share of these cases are never solved.
What Happens When the Driver Is Never Found
A lot of families assume no driver means no case. That's generally not true in New York.
The MVAIC Safety Net
- The Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation, or MVAIC, exists specifically for crashes caused by hit-and-run and uninsured drivers.
- It generally requires you to report the crash to police right away and cooperate with the investigation, which is already underway here.
- The deadlines to notify MVAIC are shorter and stricter than a typical claim, which is why waiting to "see if they catch him" can cost a family its claim.
Our guide on what to do when the other driver is unknown or uninsured walks through the notice requirements in more detail.
Questions New Yorkers ask us
If the hit-and-run driver is never caught, can we still file a claim?
Generally yes, through MVAIC, but you need to report the crash to police and act fast. Waiting on an arrest is one of the most common reasons families miss their window.
Does it matter that he worked as a livery driver?
It can. A commercial driver may have additional coverage through his employer or TLC base, on top of any personal policy, which is worth checking alongside the MVAIC claim.
What if police eventually arrest him?
An arrest generally does not change your filing deadlines. MVAIC and no-fault deadlines run on their own clocks regardless of the criminal case's timeline.
Not sure where you stand after a crash? Get your free case review or call (347) 526-1246. A real person answers, 24/7.
Reporting: ABC7 New York.
