Brooklyn hit-and-run BMW driver killed two people; alcohol and bodily fluids detected on the vehicle, according to the district attorney.
A recent incident involving a hit-and-run driver in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, has cast a spotlight on the rising concerns surrounding street safety and vehicular crime in New York City. Juventino Anastacio Florentino, a 23-year-old resident of Staten Island, has been charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide after allegedly striking two pedestrians with his BMW and subsequently fleeing the scene.
On the early morning of July 11, 2025, at approximately 4:22 a.m., Florentino’s vehicle collided with two men—59-year-old Faqiu Lin and 80-year-old Kex Un Chen—who were crossing Third Avenue at 52nd Street. Eyewitness accounts and video footage indicate that the victims were in the process of crossing when Florentino allegedly sped through a red light, striking both men with such force that their bodies were propelled into the air. Tragically, they died at the scene.
Following the impact, parts of Florentino’s vehicle were left behind, providing crucial evidence that led law enforcement to track him to his Staten Island residence. Officers noted the smell of alcohol on his breath upon his arrest later that day. Although his blood alcohol content registered at 0.06%—below the legal limit of 0.08%—Florentino admitted to consuming alcohol earlier that night. Investigators are continuing to gather details about his activities prior to the crash to determine if he had been drinking at a bar.
Florentino appeared in court, where Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Elizabeth Warin set his bail at 0,000. In addition to the charges of manslaughter, he faces multiple offenses including leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving. This incident marks Florentino’s first arrest.
This tragic event has reignited concerns regarding pedestrian safety in New York City, particularly along Third Avenue, which has seen a rise in related incidents. According to transportation advocates, 80 individuals have been killed or seriously injured in the same vicinity over recent years. Despite community demands for improved safety measures, planned upgrades to this stretch of road have been delayed until 2026.
In the aftermath of this fatal incident, city officials have yet to provide updated responses regarding the implementation of safety enhancements along this hazardous route. Advocates urge that these tragedies are preventable and highlight the urgent need for municipal action to protect pedestrians in vulnerable areas. As of now, 56 pedestrians have been fatally struck by vehicles in the city in 2025, a figure that remains concerningly high as the year unfolds.
