New York Hit and Run: 2 Dead after Speeding Car Struck Them

Two men were struck and killed early Friday morning by a speeding hit-and-run driver while walking with shopping carts near a Brooklyn food pantry

The victims, Kex Un Chen, 80, and Faqiu Lin, 59, were hit while crossing Third Avenue at 52nd Street in Sunset Park
Shocking video footage shows the vehicle running a steady red light before plowing into both men in the crosswalk
One man was thrown across the street into a lamp post, while the other was left lying in the intersection
Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders
The men are believed to have been coming from the City Harvest Resource Center, a local food pantry, but their carts were empty
A witness named Gregory described the crash scene as gruesome, stating that one of the victims had severe head trauma and facial injuries
The suspect, Juventino Anastacio Florentino, 23, was arrested later the same day at his home in Staten Island’s West Brighton neighborhood
The silver sedan involved in the crash was found parked in his driveway
Florentino now faces multiple felony charges including:
- Two counts of manslaughter
- Two counts of criminally negligent homicide
- Two counts of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death
- Reckless endangerment, reckless driving, failure to yield at a red light, and imprudent speed
He has no prior arrest history, according to police
Florentino remained silent and avoided reporters as he was led out of Staten Island’s 120th Precinct Friday afternoon
Community members, including long-time resident Naomi Zhang, expressed outrage and demanded justice, calling for stricter enforcement of traffic laws
State Senator Stephen Chan visited the crash site and condemned the hit-and-run, calling it a “senseless death” caused by reckless driving in an increasingly lawless traffic environment
Chan emphasized the human toll, saying, “Two of my constituents were run over just crossing the street… These are not victimless crimes”