Search On For Driver After 72-Year-Old Man Struck And Killed Crossing Bronx Street
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A hit-and-run in the Williamsbridge section of the Bronx ended with a man dead two days before his birthday.
His sister is now pleading for the driver to come forward. She spoke to CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis on Wednesday about her tragic loss.
Francine Clodomar gripped her brother's cane steps away from where it was found, the intersection of East 211th Street and Paulding Avenue, where he was struck by two cars Tuesday evening.
"It's the worst feeling you can feel. You're all alone now," Clodomar said.
She is left with one of the few pictures she has of her older brother, Sidney Sele, from high school. The 72-year-old was killed right before his birthday.
"I had planned surprising him with a nice meal in the morning, but now it's not to be," Clodomar said.
Investigators said Sele was walking in the crosswalk on 211th Street, around 5:40 p.m., when a white sedan turned left from Paulding Avenue, hit him, and drove off.
While on the ground here, police say he was hit by a second car, making the same left turn — then dragged down the street. that 75-year-old driver remained on scene.
Neighbors said it is a dangerous intersection.
"They coming down and going up. They don't stop," Dudley Black said.
"They like to speed like it's a highway," Edwin Rivera added.
"That's a real bad corner. A lot of accidents over there. They should put a light over there," Willie Wilson said.
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DeAngelis witnessed drivers blowing through the stop sign, and captured police going after one.
Statistics from the city Department of Transportation show Tuesday's incident the first fatal crash at this intersection since 2001.
"Sidney was a nice neighbor, very nice man. I'm sorry to hear he lost his life," Wilson said.
Friend Wilson consoled his neighbor, who has a message for the driver.
"I will forgive you for killing my brother and taking away the one person in my life I have now," Clodomar said.
But she's begging that person to turn themselves in.
Sele was pronounced dead at Montefiore North Hospital.
The second driver, who remained on scene, was not hurt.
Anyone with information about the first vehicle is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
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