In exclusive video, a woman believed to be the driver is seen abandoning her damaged vehicle on East 159th Street on Friday morning. She calmly got out of the SUV, and simply walked away.
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Police say moments before that, the same Jeep Grand Cherokee was involved in a deadly hit-and-run
.
Thierno Balde was riding a bike on East 161st Street - when he got to Melrose Ave. the Jeep slammed into him killing him.
Balde is part of a close-knit family who lives in the Bronx. Thursday, the night before he was killed, he organized a dinner.
"Let's all eat together, as a family and then he left the home and I never knew he wouldn't come back to this apartment again," said his sister-in-law, Salimatu Sow.
Friday morning, Balde was heading to Morning Prayer at a nearby mosque. The 24-year-old was following in his sibling's footsteps - and had just moved to the Bronx five months ago from Guinea.
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"The mom, the dad - nobody can believe he's passed," said his brother, Mamadou Balde.
He had big hopes and dreams and was eager to build a new life in the United States. He was waiting to pursue papers so he could possibly work in IT.
"'Back home, it's not as easy. He wanted to come here and pursue his education - change his life for the better," Sow added.
Police say the SUV did have the green light, but appeared to be speeding.
Balde's family is in disbelief and cringes at the thought of the driver hitting their loved one, driving away, and simply taking off.
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