Elderly Jewish Man Gets Run Over In Brooklyn, Driver Speeds Away Leaving Him Injured

BROOKLYN (VINnews/Sandy Eller) – Police are hot on the trail of a hit and run driver who fled the scene after striking a Chasidic man in Crown Heights this past Friday night, in what appears to be a deliberate move.

The NYPD said that the incident took place at 5 PM at the corner of Albany Avenue and Union Street.

Police said that the victim said that he was headed northbound on Albany and was crossing Union Street when he was struck.

Surveillance footage of the incident shows the car going through the red light on Union Street and making a wide left turn onto Albany Avenue, nearly sideswiping a parked car on the far side of the street as he hit the man who was approximately a third of the way into the crosswalk.

The victim was pushed a full car length by the driver before falling to the ground.

Passersby rushed to the scene to offer assistance as the car sped away.

Police have identified the vehicle as a 2017 light colored Mercedes Benz, license plate APS 1226. The victim, who was in his fifties, was taken to the hospital by Hatzolah with non-life threatening injuires.

Members of the Crown Heights community have been speculating that the incident is being investigated as a bias crime, but the NYPD has not officially classified it as of now as such.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Crime Stoppers Hotline by phone at 800-577-TIPS, by text at 247637 (CRIMES) and then entering TIP577 or online at www.NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.