Harrison, NY – Driver Charged in Fatal Pedestrian Hit and Run

Harrison, NY – Major Robert M. Nuzzo and Major Joseph W. Dodd announce an arrest has been made in connection with a fatal collision involving the tragic death of a tow truck driver last December.

On May 4, 2017, New York State Police arrested Anthony Mangano, age 51, of South Ozone Park, NY, for Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident, a class D felony, following a three month investigation.
On December 29, 2016, Troopers from Troop T and Investigators from Troop K responded to I-95 in the Town of Harrison for a hit & run fatal accident in which tow truck driver, Salvatore Brescia, age 32, was struck and killed by a passing vehicle on the side of the road, while he was loading a disabled car onto his flatbed tow truck.

Initially there was little evidence to go on.  However, there were a few small pieces of broken plastic left at the scene from the hit & run vehicle’s right side-view mirror, which unfortunately did not contain a part number.  Through markings on the plastic pieces, State Police were able to determine the specific type of plastic used to make the mirror fragments, and subsequently track down the manufacturers that utilize this type of plastic.  Subsequent contact with these manufactures eventually led to one of them identifying the plastic mirror fragments as a particular mirror they make for certain trucks made by GMC and Isuzu.  Through contact with auto parts distribution centers and then dealers, State Police obtained a long list of customer replacement mirror sales.  Customers were interviewed by Troop K BCI until a suspect was identified.  Anthony Mangano, a substitute driver for a trucking delivery company in Queens, was found to be the driver of the hit and run vehicle that left the scene.

Anthony Mangano was arraigned before the Honorable Judge Daniel D. Angioullo in the Town of Harrison Court and released on $2,000 bail.  He was scheduled to re-appear in the Town of Harrison Court on May 16, 2017 at 9:00 am.

New York State Police were assisted by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office throughout this investigation.

Major Robert Nuzzo, Troop K, Troop Commander, stated “It was clear from the onset that identifying the hit & run driver was going to be difficult.”  “In the end, it wasn’t sophisticated technology that solved this case, it was determination combined with old fashioned police work.”
Major Joseph Dodd, Troop T, Troop Commander, stated “We are hopeful that this arrest will bring some measure of solace and comfort to the Brescia family.”

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr, stated “I applaud the dogged police work that resulted in the apprehension of the individual responsible for this tragic death.   It was through the collaborative efforts of the New York State Police and our office that we were able to solve this crime.   While this won’t bring back Sal Brescia, I hope this arrest assuages some of the pain felt by his loss.”