Mohammed Abouzaid, 40, of the Bronx, is charged with leaving the scene of an incident causing death and failure to yield to a pedestrian or cyclist.
He was held on $25,000 cash bail. Abouzaid was shown video surveillance and "admitted to being the driver of the minivan," officials said.
The fatal crash happened at 40th Street and Fifth Avenue at 2:40 p.m. on Wednesday.
Police said a blue Toyota Sienna hit the pedestrians before fleeing the scene.
Alexandra Sabine Lewalter Maric, 50, died at the scene and her 55-year-old husband remains hospitalized at Bellevue Hospital with a skull fracture. He is said to be stable.
The driver tried to avoid blocking the intersection and hit reverse as a box truck was coming up behind it - barreling toward the light
The married couple who were crossing the street was sandwiched between the two vehicles and the driver of the minivan immediately took off, police said.
It didn't take long for cops to catch up with him, only a few blocks away at 8th Avenue and West 38th Street where the van was found with a dented bumper.
The investigation is ongoing.
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