Metro

Pedestrian dies after he’s hit by two cars just steps away from his NYC home: cops

A 22-year-old man was fatally struck by two cars – including a BMW with a drunk driver behind the wheel – just steps from his Bronx home over the weekend, cops said. 

Wilbert De Jesus Cordero was crossing White Plains Road mid-block, near Archer Street, around 4 a.m. Sunday when a 24-year-old man driving a Mercedes southbound struck him, authorities said.

The impact hurled Cordero into the northbound lanes of White Plains Road, where alleged drunk driver Adam Vilajeti – behind the wheel of a 2017 BMW – rammed into him, police said.

Wilbert De Jesus Cordero, 22, was crossing White Plains Road mid-block when he was struck, police said. Robert Mecea
Cordero was struck by a Mercedes and then a BMW, cops said. Robert Mecea

Cordero, who lived around the corner from the scene, was taken to Jacobi Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, cops said.

Vilajeti, of Scarsdale in Westchester County, initially fled the scene but was busted about three hours later and charged with leaving the scene of an accident and driving while intoxicated, cops said.

The Mercedes driver stayed at the scene and did not face charges by Monday. 

Vilajeti, of Scarsdale, fled the scene but was subsequently arrested. Robert Mecea

Cordero’s employer, Martin Aponte, told WNBC the victim – who had just arrived in the Bronx from the Dominican Republic – had recently started working at his store.

“Last night, he was in the barber shop and he was going home,” Aponte said. “Maybe he didn’t take care when crossing the street.”