N.Y. Man Fatally Hit by Passing Car After Trying to Stop Car Break-In
After the victim tried to stop someone from allegedly stealing an item from his car, he was struck by another vehicle
Getty
Stock image of police carsA man was killed after trying to prevent theft from his car in Queens, New York, according to police, reports CBS News, ABC News and PIX11 News.
The victim, 43, was found by authorities after an emergency call was made reporting that a man was hit by a car near 85th Street and 25th Avenue in East Elmhurst around 3:30 p.m., per PIX11 News.
According to police, the man was at the intersection when he spotted the two suspects breaking into his white Toyota Highlander to steal an item inside, per CBS News.
A witness told CBS News that someone heard the car glass shatter and called out to the owner that people were breaking into his car. The victim then responded by approaching the suspects and his car. The alleged thieves then ran away from the car.
As the alleged suspects were leaving in a white BMW, the victim then headed for the suspects in their car to stop them from getting away. He then climbed onto the side of the BMW as it was in motion, and he was then thrown off the car and struck by a passing Cadillac Escalade, per ABC News.
CBS News reports that the victim was left on the street, where he began to bleed out. He was taken to the Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The owner of the Cadillac Escalade, Hugo Dutan, told PIX11 that the victim “went flying against” his car. “The head hit the front wheel, the right-hand side tire.”
Surveillance video caught the incident and reportedly showed people rushing to the victim after the white BMW sped away. One of the people who rushed to assist was Kevin Gonzalez, who was playing volleyball with friends when the man tried to catch the suspects.
Getty Images
Stock image of crime scene barricade covering“They broke the window of the car and tried to take something from it,” Gonzalez told PIX11 News. “He noticed it was his car came and basically tried to stop it latched onto the car, and it happened quickly…a couple of us tried to chase down the car, but they sped off.”
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
No arrests have been made due to the ongoing investigation and search for the two suspects.
A spokesperson for the NYPD 115th Precinct did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for additional information on Wednesday.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
