Police have identified the child who fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver Thursday as 4-year-old Zachariah Padilla of Brooklyn.<\/p>\n
The hit-and-run happened near Rockaway Parkway and Linden Boulevard just after 11 a.m.<\/p>\n
Zachariah got away from his mother, ran into the street, was struck by a vehicle and apparently dragged 150 feet by the SUV — right in front of Brookdale University Hospital’s main entrance.<\/p>\n
The boy was carried inside the hospital by his mother. He was later pronounced dead.<\/p>\n
The driver fled the scene. His white Ford SUV was last seen northbound on Rockaway Parkway.<\/p>\n
“You hit a child. You know you hit the child, and you take off? And that is the saddest part of all,” said Brownsville resident, Royston Antoine. “No matter what it is — you hit a child. You stay. Face the consequences. It’s better that you stay, not running because now it’s even worse. Because you hit him, you didn’t care. You run away.”<\/p>\n
The intersection of Rockaway Parkway and Linden Boulevard is one of the most dangerous intersections in New York City.<\/p>\n
According to city statistics, at least 30 pedestrians have been struck by cars and trucks there in the last four years, alone.<\/p>\n
Police have recovered surveillance video of the incident.<\/p>\n
No arrests have been made so far.<\/p>\n
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