Driver nabbed for fleeing after running over man lying in Copiague road, police say

This story was updated at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday to reflect that an arrest was made Wednesday morning.

Suffolk Police have arrested the driver who struck and killed a pedestrian on Vespucci Avenue in Copiague Thursday night.

Police said Friday that Fernando Martinez, 19, of Copiage ran over a man lying in the road and sped off without stopping. The teen was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving a fatality.

The victim is an unidentified Hispanic man believed to be in his late 30s, police said. He was hit about 10:45 p.m. by a 2011 Honda Pilot in the northbound lanes of Vespucci Avenue, between Dante and Dixon avenues, according to cops.

Martinez continued heading north on Vespucci before turning left onto Dixon Avenue, police said. Investigators later found the SUV in Copiague and impounded it as evidence.

The victim, whose name has not yet been identified by police, died at the scene, authorities said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Suffolk Police Department’s Major Case Unit at 631.852.6555 or Crime Stoppers at 1.800.220.TIPS.

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