D.A.'s office announces indictment in fatal hit-and-run last month on Clinton and Stanton

Photo from last month by Stacie Joy 

Yesterday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., announced the indictment of the driver involved in a hit-and-run that killed a woman in the Lower East Side last month. 

As previously reported, the incident occurred on Dec. 18 around 7 p.m. at Clinton and Stanton streets. According to the NYPD, a woman was crossing Stanton Street in the crosswalk when she was struck by an SUV making a right turn from Clinton Street. The vehicle fled the scene. The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She was later identified as 76-year-old Yong Li. 

Per court documents, Julio Cachago, 53, of Queens, was driving a 2020 Ford Edge with a passenger. Prosecutors say he allowed one pedestrian to cross at the intersection, then struck Li as she entered the crosswalk with the walk signal — allegedly driving over her before briefly stopping and then continuing on. 

Charges include one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide. 

Authorities say Cachago later stopped to inspect his vehicle for damage before driving to the Bronx. The NYPD located and towed the SUV that evening. The following day, prosecutors say Cachago contacted 311 and 911 to report his vehicle missing and was directed to the 7th Precinct, where he was arrested on Dec. 22. 

"Julio Cachago allegedly left an elderly New Yorker to die in the street after he hit her with his car and drove off without even checking on her condition," Bragg said in a statement. "Instead of notifying emergency services immediately, he allegedly only called the police the next day when he discovered his vehicle had been towed." 

Charges, per the D.A.'s office: 

• Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, Death, a class D felony, one count 
• Criminally Negligent Homicide, a class E felony, one count 
• The right of Way to Pedestrians and Bicyclists, Physical Injury, one count 
• License Restriction Violation, one count 
• Failure of a Driver to Exercise Due Care, Serious Physical Injury, one count 
• Unlicensed Driving, one count