Driver charged after 5-year-old dies in Queens hit-run
Coming Home from the Park
At about 5:28 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2022, at 100th Street and McIntosh Street in Queens, prosecutors said Xavier Carchipulla hit 5-year-old Jonathan Martinez while turning and left the scene.
Location reported in Open Data.
What We Know
Jonathan Martinez, 5, died after a driver in a white Dodge Ram hit him at 100th Street and McIntosh Street in East Elmhurst on Sept. 1, 2022. The city crash record lists the crash at 5:28 p.m. and records one pedestrian death. Queens prosecutors said Xavier Carchipulla was driving north on McIntosh Street, turned south onto 100th Street and hit Jonathan as the child was beside his father and siblings, then left the scene. Police arrested him on Sept. 21, and a grand jury later indicted him on charges including criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene without reporting a death. News reports spelled the defendant's surname both Carchipull and Carchipulla.
Prosecutors described a turn from McIntosh onto 100th
City crash data records a fatal crash at 5:28 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2022, at 100th Street and McIntosh Street in Queens, with one pedestrian killed and no other injuries recorded.
Queens prosecutors said Xavier Carchipulla drove a white 2018 Dodge Ram north on McIntosh Street, turned south onto 100th Street and hit 5-year-old Jonathan Martinez, who was beside his father and siblings as they attempted to cross 100th Street. Prosecutors said the driver did not stop.
Reported timing and turn details varied in early coverage: the city record and DA coverage put the crash at 5:28 p.m., most early reports said around 5:30 p.m., and CBS New York wrote around 5:45 p.m. The Daily News reported a turn onto McIntosh Street, while later DA coverage described a turn onto 100th Street.
An East Elmhurst corner neighbors had worried about
The crash happened near 100th and McIntosh streets in East Elmhurst, by Helen Marshall Playground and P.S. 127 Aerospace Science Magnet School, according to local reporting.
QNS reported that McIntosh Street had recently been repaved and had no center line or crosswalk markings painted yet. ABC7 also described the intersection as freshly paved and still unmarked.
Neighbors told CBS New York they had worried about drivers coming through quickly and wanted traffic calming, including a stop sign or speed bump.
Jonathan Martinez was remembered by family and neighbors
Family members identified the child as Jonathan Martinez. A GoFundMe organized by a family friend called him "the sweetest and brightest boy" and said family, friends and church would miss him.
Jonathan's father, Richard Martinez, later asked the driver to surrender: "I forgive you, we are human. All I ask [is] turn yourself in to authorities."
After the arrest, Jonathan's mother, Jennifer Erez, told the Daily News, "We just want justice. We've been praying for this moment."
Police arrested a driver nearly three weeks later
Police arrested the driver on Sept. 21 at an Astoria home, according to press accounts and DA coverage. The New York Post and Daily News spelled his surname Carchipull; QNS and CBS New York spelled it Carchipulla.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced charges including criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting a death, failure to exercise due care and aggravated unlicensed operation. QNS reported that a Queens grand jury later indicted him on a seven-count indictment.
Katz said, "The defendant's alleged criminal negligence while behind the wheel has brought absolute devastation to a family that continues to mourn their young child."