NEW YORK — Authorities are searching for two women in connection with a hit-and-run that claimed the life of a Hispanic car wash employee in the Bronx, police said. The incident occurred when the victim was cleaning a car on Sunday morning, she added.
The terrible and shocking moment was captured by a security camera. In the images it is seen when Félix Thomas Bontia, 47 years old and who everyone called Benitowas around 5:24 am on Sunday in Speedwaya car wash in Webster Avenue where he was working, cleaning a car when another vehicle sped into the bus lane and struck him. The victim was crushed between the two cars, and the suspects fled on foot and abandoned the car.
“They should be aware that we cannot drive drunk on the streets…we leave the house without knowing what awaits us,” said Cristan de Paz, the victim’s co-worker.
Police said a 58-year-old man sitting in the driver’s seat of the Rav4, the car the victim was cleaning, sustained minor injuries in the collision and was taken to Saint Barnabas Hospital.
Bontia, a Mexican immigrant and father of a relative, worked at the place to send money to his daughters in Mexico. His co-workers set up an altar in front of the car wash to remember him.
“Well, like everyone here, you have to work to generate more income, for the family, and we all hope to return at some point, but not like this,” said Armando Hernández, who lived with Bontia.
Now the authorities are looking for two women, the one who was allegedly driving and her companion.
If you have information you can call the authorities at 1-888-57-PISTA.
The investigation is ongoing.
