Police on Friday arrested the driver suspected of leaving a groom-to-be and his cousin in a fiery crash on Manhattan’s Henry Hudson Parkway, first hitting the car of an off-duty NYPD officer, police sources said.
The driver of a Chevy Silverado pickup responsible for the killings of groom-to-be Kirk Walker Jr., 38, and his cousin Robert McLaurin, 40, was taken to the 33rd Precinct in Washington Heights, where he was awaiting arraignment, sources said.
The fatal collision was caused by an earlier crash in which the Silverado collided with the vehicle of an on-duty NYPD Transit officer.
The driver of the Chevy fled the scene of the accident, pursued by the officer on duty.
The driver of the pickup truck then drove into the Henry Hudson, on the wrong side of traffic, before crashing head-on into a Dodge Challenger carrying Walker and McLaurin around 2:20 a.m. on Aug. 24 near W. 154th St. in Washington Heights, police said.
According to police, a Toyota Rav 4 was also spotted with the Chevy going against traffic on the Henry Hudson Parkway. It is unclear whether the Toyota was driven by the off-duty officer.
The truck driver also hit an Audi S3 carrying a 27-year-old man and his 28-year-old passenger, after which the car came to a stop.
The driver abandoned 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’s looking forward to seeing justice done for her fiancé and his cousin now that his suspected killer has been caught.
“As a family, we are relieved to have taken the first step toward justice for Kirk and Robert,” said Shantae Weave. “We will not allow Kirk and Robert’s lives to be taken in vain and we will continue to push to ensure that this type of thing does not happen again.”
Walker’s family and several members of the bridal party were in cars following Walker’s Challenger when the accident occurred. Walker’s father even attempted to revive him before emergency services arrived.
The family was dismayed and was no longer busy planning a wedding, but arranging funerals.
“I was so happy,” Walker’s bride-to-be told The News of her wedding plans. “He planned this [wedding]. I’m a very simple, understated person and Kirk was like, ‘You’re a princess. You deserve this grand wedding.’ He gave me a beautiful engagement ring. I had huge ‘marry me’ signs and balloons and flowers.”
