NYPD: Suspects turn themselves in after fleeing crash that killed Cathy Garcia near Yankee Stadium
NEW YORK -- Police say three suspects who fled the scene of a deadly crash Thursday outside Yankee Stadium turned themselves in Friday and are facing charges.
Police said the suspects ran a red light and slammed into an SUV, driven by 69-year-old Cathy Garcia, near River Avenue and 161st Street in the Bronx, CBS2's Dave Carlin reported.
Police found about a dozen believed-to-be stolen catalytic converters in the suspects' car.
Garcia was alone in her vehicle and heading to work, where she handled applicant investigations for the Department of Correction. Her son-in-law, Jamel Wright, said she worked as an intake officer in the medical department.
"We are heartbroken to learn that a member of our DOC family was tragically taken from us Thursday while on her way to work. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ms. Garcia's loved ones as we mourn the loss of our colleague," DOC Commissioner Louis Molina said in a statement.
"The leader of our family is killed in a horrific car accident and then the people ran off," he said. "Wonderful woman. Incredible, just wonderful. Like, you know, the life of the party, great grandmother, great friend."
"To have it happen to someone so close is hard," said neighbor Estrela Uribe.
What's left of Garcia's vehicle was taken to the 44th Precinct, where the three suspects turned themselves in.
Watch Dave Carlin's report
Friday morning, police had the man they said was the hit-and-run driver in custody. They identified him as 24-year-old Carlos Hernandez, who faces charges of reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and criminal possession of stolen property.
The other suspects are 21-year-old Edwin Amparo and 28-year-old Atahualda Rodriguez, who are charged with criminal possession of stolen property and possession of burglar tools that police said were used to pull catalytic converters from cars.
"It's a major problem in this area," Wright said.
It's a major problem all over. NYPD data shows catalytic converter thefts are up 269% citywide so far this year compared to last.
Around the corner from the crash at El Condado del Muffler, mechanic Ana Reyes saw three customers Friday alone who had theirs stolen.
"Every day. Every day," she said.
The converters contain valuable precious metals.
Reyes advises drivers to replace their stolen ones with aftermarket parts.
"Because when you install the original one, they're gonna steal it again," she told CBS2's Ali Bauman.
Anyone who sells or buys a stolen catalytic converter can be charged with a felony, but only if it's more than $1,000 in value.
In this case, the invaluable loss was Cathy Garcia's life.