By David Greene
Police are looking for the driver of an SUV, after the driver of an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) lost control and collided with the SUV. Both vehicles exploded and were engulfed in flames, killing the ATV driver. The driver of the SUV reportedly fled the scene.
Firefighter's were called to the City Island Bridge after the 11:39 p.m. crash, on May 30th, for reports of a motor vehicle accident at Shore Road and City Island Avenue.
According to the NYPD, the driver of a "A three-wheeled motorcycle," traveling east bound on the bridge, lost control and slammed head on into the 1991 Isuzu Rodeo SUV. The driver of the ATV was rushed to Jacobi Hospital, where the victim died one hour after having suffered severe head trauma from not wearing a helmet and burns from the fire.
Police say witnesses reported the driver fled the burning Isuzu truck and fled the scene on foot.
Police identified the victim as Richard Perez, 37, of White Plains, believed to be a husband and father of two children.
Investigators believe Perez was driving his $50,000 Campagna T-Rex at a high rate of speed at the time of the collision. The designer vehicle had two wheels on the front and one in the back
Perez suffered serious burns in the blaze but died from severe head trauma. Cops said he had not been wearing a helmet.
One employee at the Sea Shore Restaurant stated, "It was late at night, we just saw the accident scene and they held up people on the island until 4 a.m.," referring to the police shutdown of the City Island Bridge.
The employee, who declined to give his name, added, "We're not hearing anything, we don't know what happened."
A source at One Police Plaza was asked if the three wheel vehicle was a registered and legal vehicle, the source replied, "I don't have that answer for you at this time," but vowed to look into it.
The accident is reminiscent to a March 8 crash on White Plains Road in Soundview, that killed Keon Nedd, 17. The driver of that stolen auto fled the scene.