Fernando Martinez Arrested in Copiague Hit-and-Run Accident
The 19-year-old driver faces felony charges after fleeing a fatal collision on Vespucci Avenue.
A 19-year-old man was arrested after a fatal hit-and-run accident that killed an unidentified pedestrian on Vespucci Avenue in Copiague, New York, on Thursday, April 23, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.
Fernando Martinez faces a felony charge of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving a death. He was held at the Third Precinct ahead of a scheduled arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip.
The northbound 2011 Honda Pilot ran over the victim, who was lying in the dark roadway between Dante and Dixon avenues at approximately 10:45 p.m. The driver did not stop, continuing north before turning left onto Dixon Avenue.
The victim died instantly. Detectives described him as a Hispanic man in his late 30s and are working to notify his family.
Officers later located the Honda in Copiague and impounded it as evidence. The crash remains under investigation by the Major Case Unit.
The arrest of a suspect provides initial answers, but the family of the deceased pedestrian now faces a complex legal journey. While the criminal justice system penalizes the act of fleeing, a parallel civil investigation must examine the crash mechanics, including visibility, speed, and driver distraction, to determine why the collision occurred.
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal. "Having the proper resources is crucial to investigate a hit-and-run accident case and prove negligence. Road conditions, signage visibility, and road lighting are all potential contributing factors that are considered and must be thoroughly examined. These procedures are necessary for helping someone who has lost a loved one at the hands of a hit-and-run driver receive the justice and monetary compensation that they deserve."
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, hit-and-run crashes reached a record high recently, comprising 15% of all police-reported crashes nationwide, with death rising to 2,872 in 2023.
What happens next in the criminal investigation?
As prosecutors move forward with felony charges, the victim's estate will need to handle the financial and emotional aftermath of the sudden loss. The criminal proceedings establish accountability for leaving the scene, but they do not automatically provide restitution for the family's damages.
"We understand that losing a loved one is not only a deeply emotional loss but also an economic one," added National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, of Counsel at Counsel at Bond Legal. Even in complex scenarios where a pedestrian is in the road, thorough accident reconstruction is required to evaluate all cause and ensure the victim's rights are protected under state law.
New York wrongful death statute
Under N.Y. EPTL § 5-4.1, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. New York applies pure comparative fault. The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of parental guidance, funeral expenses, and the decedent's conscious pain and suffering.