Police arrested the driver Friday suspected of leaving a groom-to-be and his cousin to die in a fiery crash on Manhattan’s Henry Hudson Parkway after he first hit an off-duty NYPD cop’s car, police sources said.
The driver of a Chevy Silverado pickup responsible for killing groom-to-be Kirk Walker Jr., 38, and his cousin Robert McLaurin, 40, was brought to the 33rd Precinct station house in Washington Heights where he awaited charges, sources said.
The deadly hit-and-run was sparked by a crash that occurred earlier when the Silverado smashed into an off-duty NYPD Transit cop’s vehicle.
The Chevy driver fled that crash with the off-duty officer in pursuit.
The pickup truck driver then merged onto the Henry Hudson — heading against traffic — before slamming head-on into a Dodge Challenger with Walker and McLaurin inside near W. 154th St. in Washington Heights around 2:20 a.m. on Aug. 24, cops said.
Police said a Toyota Rav 4 was also spotted with the Chevy heading against traffic on the Henry Hudson Parkway. It remains unclear if the Toyota was driven by the off-duty cop.
The truck driver also hit an Audi S3 carrying a 27-year-old man and his 28-year-old passenger before coming to a stop.
The driver ditched the Chevy and fled on foot, leaving his 21-year-old passenger behind as the pickup truck burst into flames.
The suspect’s passenger was hospitalized in stable condition and has not been charged, police said.
Walker Jr.’s bride-to-be said she looks forward to seeing justice served for her fiance and his cousin now that his suspected killer had been caught.
“As a family, we are relieved to be at the first step in getting justice for Kirk and Robert,” said Shantae Weave. We will not let Kirk & Robert’s lives be taken in vain and will continue to push so that things like this do not continue to happen.”
Walker’s relatives and several members of the wedding party in cars following behind Walker’s Challenger when the crash occurred and his father even tried to resuscitate him before first responders arrived.
The family was left stunned, pivoting from plans to celebrate a wedding to scheduling funerals.
“I was so overjoyed,” Walker’s bride-to-be told The News of her wedding plans. “He planned this [wedding]. I’m a very simple and low-key person and Kirk was like, ‘You’re a princess. You deserve this grandiose wedding.’ He gave me a beautiful engagement ring. I had huge ‘marry me’ signs and balloons and flowers.”