Cops: Man fatally hit pedestrian in Hempstead, then fled

A Floral Park man has been charged with fleeing an accident after he ran over a man in Hempstead who later died, Nassau County police said.

Neptali Sanchez, 44, of Crown Avenue, had parked a 2001 Ford Expedition on West Columbia Avenue and gone into a deli at 149 Main St. on March 3, according to Homicide Squad detectives. Police said that when Sanchez returned to the Expedition, he ran over the man, 64, who had fallen in front of the passenger side of the vehicle. Police said Sanchez’s vehicle initially stopped, then sped away after hitting the man at 8:15 p.m.

The victim, whose identity has not been released by police, was found bleeding from his head. He was taken to NYU Winthop Hospital, where he died March 9.

An investigation led police to Sanchez, who was arrested Friday, officials said. Police did not immediately say what led them to Sanchez.

Sanchez was arraigned Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead on charges of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting. He was held on $100,000 cash or bond, according to online court records. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.