Young father of 7-year-old girl killed in Bronx hit and run

MOTT HAVEN, Bronx (WABC) -- A pedestrian died after being struck by two cars -- one of which fled the scene -- in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx Monday night.

Now, the victim's family is speaking out.

Police say 28-year-old Gabriel Garcia, the father of a 7-year-old girl, was struck at the corner of East 138th Street and Walton Avenue at about 10:25 p.m. He was pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital.

"This is a moment nobody wants to be in, not matter who the person is," the victim's aunt, Maria Garcia, said. "It's hard. It's very hard for us. It's a young guy."

Investigators say a dark-colored sedan with TLC license plates and along with a 2017 Toyota Camry were traveling in the left lane of the eastbound East 138th Street when the sedan hit Garcia, possibly attempting to cross East 138th Street.

The livery cab knocked him to the roadway, and the Camry then ran him over, police said.

"Hurt," Maria Garcia said. "I got a lot of pain."

Witnesses say they knew Gabriel Garcia was in bad shape when they saw him in the roadway.

"He was face down, bleeding," one woman said.

Both vehicles stopped momentarily before the sedan continued eastbound on East 138th Street, making a left turn onto northbound Grand Concourse and fleeing the scene.

Police say the driver of the Camry briefly left before returning to speak to responding officers.

There are no arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing. Garcia's family pleaded with the driver to turn himself in.

"I just ask that person to please come forward, to come forward and confess what happened," Maria Garcia said. "It's our family. It's my nephew."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.