New York City police arrested Anyelo Velez Rodriguez, 33, for a fatal hit-and-run on the Bronx Expressway five years ago. The crash killed Good Samaritan Jaquan Cesar and motorist Richard Lue
On February 11, 2019, around 1:15 a.m., 28-year-old dialysis technician Jaquan Cesar saw a crash on the Bronx Expressway. Trying to help, he was hit by Anyelo Velez Rodriguez’s BMW, which sent him over a barrier into oncoming traffic, where another car hit him and fled. Cesar died there. Shortly after, Rodriguez’s BMW hit Richard Lue’s Honda and a tractor-trailer, both fled. Lue, 22, died in the hospital.
The arrest of Velez Rodriguez offers the victims’ families overdue justice. Jaquan Cesar, known for helping others, especially end-stage renal disease patients, died helping at the crash. His final act mirrored his life’s service.
Velez Rodriguez, from the Morris Heights section of the Bronx, faces manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges.
His arraignment was pending as of Wednesday, following his arrest on Tuesday. The community and the families affected by this tragedy have been waiting for years for accountability and closure. The arrest marks a significant step towards achieving that goal, as the legal process unfolds.