A hit-and-run collision occurred moments after midnight in Cypress Hills NY, with the serious car crash resulting in the deaths of two men. The fatal car accident took place near the intersection of Fulton Street and Chestnut Street. According to police, an Acura TL sedan was travelling in the eastern direction on Fulton Street when the vehicle motorist lost control of the car.
Following a collision with two parked cars, the driver allegedly struck two pedestrians: 41-year-old Delman Maldonado and 56-year-old Israel Turcios. Friends of the two men said that they had just exited a bar owned by the brother of Turcios.
Maldonado was declared dead at the scene. Turcios was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was also pronounced dead.
Surveillance video reportedly confirms that both men were struck, after which the motorist allegedly deserted his vehicle and tried to escape on foot. On Tuesday, August 2, the driver, 21-year-old Efren Lanfranco-Perez, was located by police and arrested on the following charges:
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Aggravated unlicensed operator of a motor vehicle
Turcios’ son, Frank, was overcome with grief upon hearing of the death of his father. He said his father was a happy person from Honduras who left behind three children and seven grandchildren. Maldonado had lived with Milli Muniz since 2003, and together, they raised a 12-year-old son. Munoz said that he was her best friend and that it is difficult to accept that he is no longer here.
Lanfranco-Perez has already been indicted on the criminal charges. His bail was set at $300,000.
In addition to criminal charges, the suspect may also face civil charges of negligence and wrongful death claims from the families of the victims. The plaintiffs would have to show that Lanfranco-Perez engaged in reckless or negligent behavior that caused the deaths of the two victims.
If you were injured, or lost a loved one, in a motor vehicle accident caused by the negligence or intentional wrongdoing of another individual, call the personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at Proner and Proner.
