A Bronx motorist will finally face justice a year after leaving 64-year-old e-bicyclist Hua Pan to die on the street as his family — who happened upon the scene – looked on in horror, cops said.
Police cuffed Emilio Berrios, 32, Friday on charges of criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of an incident for the fatal hit-and-run that claimed Pan’s life on April 5, 2023, according to law enforcement.
Berrios was driving behind the wheel of a white pickup truck when he blew through a red light heading north along Williamsbridge Road at Pierce Ave. in Morris Park around 11:22 p.m., cops said.
Pan, a hard working immigrant who his family said had been looking forward to retiring, had been traveling east along Pierce Ave. when he passed through a green light and Berrios’ truck slammed into him, an investigation by the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad found.
Police found Pan’s unconscious body on the pavement with a head wound less than 200 feet away from his Pierce Ave. home, cops said.
As Pan lay dying in the street, his daughter and son-in-law happened upon the scene while driving home.
“We passed by and saw he’s Chinese. Then we see the clothes are the same; jacket, same thing,” son-in-law Ken Ruo, 42, told the Daily News last year.
The couple’s 12-year-old son, who was home at the time of the crash, witnessed the crash’s horrific aftermath.
“My boy saw it. He couldn’t sleep the whole night,” Ruo said.
Medics rushed the victim to Jacobi Medical Center where he died, according to law enforcement.
ny
Berrios fled the scene in his truck, according to police. He never reported the fatal crash.
Pan hailed from China’s Fujian province and immigrated to the U.S. about 30 years ago, according to his son-in-law.
He made his living as a chef and had looked forward to retiring at 65, Ruo said.
“He’s a really nice guy,” said Ruo. “Every day off, he’s bringing the kids to the park. Very nice grandfather.”
