Driver Charged After Fatal East Village Hit-and-Run
A northbound sedan driver killed a pedestrian at Cooper Square and St. Marks Place on Nov. 27, 2022, and police later arrested Michael Pruitt, saying he fled after hitting Lucas Jimenez Aburto at Third Avenue and St. Marks Place.
What We Know
At 5:48 a.m. on Nov. 27, 2022, the city crash record says a northbound sedan driver killed a pedestrian at Cooper Square and St. Marks Place. News accounts citing police describe the crash at Third Avenue and St. Marks Place, where they said Lucas Jimenez Aburto was crossing against the signal after leaving work and a driver traveling above the speed limit hit him and left. The Daily News later reported that police arrested Michael Pruitt, 37, of Canarsie, and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The city record lists the pedestrian as 53, while both news reports identify him as 55.
A predawn crossing ended in a fatal hit-and-run
The city crash record places the fatal collision at Cooper Square and St. Marks Place at 5:48 a.m. on Nov. 27, 2022, and records one pedestrian killed with no other reported injuries.
News accounts citing police describe the crash at Third Avenue and St. Marks Place. They reported that Lucas Jimenez Aburto was crossing against the signal when a northbound driver with a green light, traveling above the speed limit, hit him and left the scene.
The records name Cooper Square; news reports name Third Avenue
The official crash record locates the collision at Cooper Square and St. Marks Place in Manhattan. The two reviewed news reports, both citing police, describe the location as Third Avenue and St. Marks Place.
CrashCountNYC location context for Cooper Square counts 61 crashes, 36 injuries, 4 serious injuries and 2 deaths since 2022.
The victim was identified in news reports as Lucas Jimenez Aburto
The city person record lists a 53-year-old male pedestrian killed at the intersection. The articles identify the victim as Lucas Jimenez Aburto, 55; amNY described him as an East Midtown resident, and the Daily News described him as a Mexican immigrant, a father of 12, and someone leaving a shift at nearby Ray’s Pizza & Bagel Café.
Speed, inattention and the signal appear in the sourced record
The city crash record cites driver inattention or distraction and unsafe speed for the sedan driver, and it records the pedestrian action as crossing against the signal. The news accounts also reported that police said the pedestrian crossed against the light and that the driver was traveling well above the speed limit.
Police later arrested Michael Pruitt
The Daily News reported on Sept. 24, 2023, that police arrested Michael Pruitt, 37, of Canarsie, and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The report said his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court was pending that night.