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Queens man charged in 3-year-old boy’s hit-and-run death: DA
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Dec 7, 2023
Modified Dec 7, 2023
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By
Catalina Gonella
Published Dec 7, 2023
Modified Dec 7, 2023
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A 20-year-old Maspeth man was indicted on a slew of charges after he allegedly struck and killed a 3-year-old boy in a hit and run last month, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said on Thursday.
Kevin Gomez was charged in a 14-count indictment with manslaughter, assault, leaving the scene of an incident, reckless endangerment and operating a motor vehicle without a license, among other charges, the district attorney said. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, officials said.
His attorney, Todd D. Greenberg, Esq., said his client did not see the child.
“This was a tragic, tragic accident, and my heart goes out to the family," he told Gothamist in a statement. "However, the fact remains that it was an accident, and there was no criminality."
The incident took place on Nov. 29 around 6:30 p.m. when Gomez was pulling his white 2014 Infiniti Q50 away from where he had parked it in a no standing zone near College Point Boulevard and 41st Avenue, according to the charges. The driver allegedly struck Quintus Chen, who had been walking down the street ahead of his dad, and stepped off the curb in front of the car. Chen was thrown from the hood onto the street under the car and dragged 10 feet, according to the DA.
Gomez appeared to slow down or stop the vehicle, before driving off and leaving the scene, authorities said. Chen sustained severe head and neck trauma, and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to the DA, surveillance video showed the toddler’s head cleared the top of the sedan’s hood, and he would have been visible to the driver.
“There are few threats to public safety more lethal than an unlicensed driver operating an unregistered, uninsured vehicle at night with a windshield and windows tinted so dark you can barely see through them in broad daylight,” Katz said. “We will show in court that the horrifying death of 3-year-old Quintus Chen was the result of the defendant’s recklessness, irresponsibility and indifference to human life.”
The car was found later that night, four blocks away from the fatal collision and parked in front of a fire hydrant with blood on the driver’s side kick board, officials said. The car's windows were excessively illegally tinted, and its registration and insurance had both expired, according to the DA.
Gomez was arrested the next day when he went to the 109th Precinct to ask where his car was. Prosecutors said he only had a learner's permit and could not drive unless accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old.
The day after the incident, Mayor Eric Adams vowed to redesign 1,000 city intersections by reducing parking spots around them, or "daylighting" them, to make it easier for drivers to see crossing pedestrians amid mounting criticisms that he abandoned campaign pledges to improve street safety.
This story has been updated with comment from Gomez's attorney.
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