Driver arrested in deadly 2023 Coney Island hit-and-run
NEW YORK — A driver who allegedly struck and killed a mother of six in Coney Island over a year ago has been arrested, New York City police said.
Mitchell Maldonado, a 33-year-old man from Vermont, was arrested Wednesday morning in Brooklyn, police said.
Police say Tamika Richards, 41, and her 18-year-old son were crossing Mermaid Avenue at 24th Street when they were hit by the driver of a red truck just before 9 p.m. on March 3, 2023. The driver then took off, according to police.
Richards was taken to a local hospital, where she died. Her son was also taken to a local hospital with hip and wrist injuries.
Maldonado faces a number of charges, including leaving the scene of an accident and failure to yield to pedestrians.
Mother of 6 dies after being struck by driver in Coney Island
CBS News New York spoke to Richards' family days after the deadly crash. They said Richards was a mother of six.
According to witnesses, Richards jumped in front of her son moments before they were struck to try to save him.
"She ran to grab her son, because he was in front of her. She was very protective of her children," said Donald Folks, Richards' father.
At the time, people who live in the neighborhood told CBS News New York the crash happened at a dangerous intersection.
"The cars don't wait for the lights. They'll fly through here just like crazy," one person said.
