A 56-year-old man crossing a Bronx street was fatally struck by a hit-and-run van driver Wednesday — the second time this week a pedestrian in the borough has been killed by a driver who sped off.
The latest victim was crossing E. 163rd St. near Westchester Ave. in Longwood when the driver of a burgundy van rammed into him about 6:30 a.m. and kept going, cops said.
Medics rushed the victim to Lincoln Hospital but he could not be saved. His name was not immediately released.
About 12:35 p.m. Monday, 64-year-old SM Akhtaruzzaman was fatally struck as he crossed Bronxwood Ave. at E. 229th St., just down the block from his Wakefield home, cops said.
The driver of Chevy Silverado with a tow hitch attacked, who had a green light, was turning left onto the avenue. Akhtaruzzaman was in the crosswalk and had the walk signal when he was struck, cops said.
Neither driver has been caught.
The crashes come as cops have been struggling with a 26% jump in pedestrian fatalities this year.
As of Sept. 19, cops have investigated 85 pedestrian deaths compared to 67 by that time last year.
