In a sobering conclusion to a case that gripped the community, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. disclosed the sentencing of two individuals responsible for a deadly hit-and-run incident. Cary Brown, 30, and Marcos Vega-Pagan, 26, have been dealt prison terms for their roles in the crash that claimed the life of Joel Quintana, a 42-year-old father of six. Following guilty pleas by both parties, Vega-Pagan has received a sentence of 3 2/3-to-11 years, while Brown was handed down 3-to-9 years back in February, the office's official release reports.
Details of the August 3, 2023 tragedy surfaced, with the D.A.'s statement noting that both Brown and Vega-Pagan were racing along the Henry Hudson Parkway at speeds which now seem all the more reckless in light of the father's untimely passing the defendants were racing in their cars southbound on the Henry Hudson Parkway, as admitted in the defendants’ guilty pleas at approximately 10:50 p.m., when Vega-Pagan's BMW collided with Mr. Quintana's motorcycle near West 145th Street, with Brown's vehicle subsequently running over the victim as both fled the scene.
Further insidious actions by Vega-Pagan came to light when he contacted State Farm the following day, falsely claiming his car had been damaged while parked—adding a layer of deceit to the already despicable hit-and-run incident. The prosecutorial team, led by Assistant D.A.s Taylor Holland and Andrea Kimmel and with assistance from NYPD officers and detectives, pieced together the evidence which culminated in the sentences, as announced by the D.A.'s office.
DA Bragg emphasized the impact of the event, stating, "This was a horrific tragedy that has left a family with six children continuing to grieve" and highlighted the importance of accountability when it comes to public safety on Manhattan's roadways, as noted by the DA's office.
