A person driving a BMW abandoned their passenger following an accident with a utility pole in Staten Island. The driver proceeded to remove the license plates from the vehicle and fled the scene, according to authorities and sources.

Around 10:10 p.m., the 25-year-old motorist was traveling swiftly on Goethals Road north, close to the intersection of Jules Drive in Graniteville. On Monday, 26-year-old Usman Chugahtai was in the backseat with another passenger in the car when the driver lost control and veered onto the sidewalk, according to authorities.

Staten Island Hit-and-Run Tragedy

Shock and grief covered a Staten Island neighborhood following a tragic hit-and-run accident that took the life of 26-year-old Usman Chughtai and injured another passenger on Monday night. Witnesses described the emotional situation after the accident, insisting on the heartlessness of the driver who left the area.

The incident, which occurred at the intersection of Goethals Road North and Jules Drive in Graniteville, unfolded with a deafening crash, described by one resident as akin to "heavy thunder." The impact was so intense that it prompted immediate fear and confusion among locals, who rushed to the scene to assess the situation.

One neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, vividly described the chaos that ensued. "I put my daughter to sleep and then I came in my room," she said. "I hear a loud explosive sound... I got really scared and I ran to the back. I opened the deck door and I see all of this. And I lost it."

Identifying the importance of the situation, the resident quickly called 911, as others worked to collect important details. Despite their attempts to get the license plate number, the driver callously fled the scene when confronted by the homeowners whose property he had damaged.

"I went outside," the neighbor recounted. "One guy, he was on the phone walking around, the other one had plates in his hand. I go up to him. He had taken them off. As soon as I asked him, 'Listen, what's your license number?' he just jetted off," according to Daily News.

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BMW Driver Flees Hit-and-Run Scene

The brazen escape left witnesses stunned, with one remarking, "He literally sprinted and left and ran. He just ran away." Despite the unfolding chaos, the gravity of the situation became painfully evident when the lifeless body of Chughtai was discovered on the ground.

"We thought he was OK because his eyes were open," the neighbor recounted. "But somebody that was driving by stopped and checked for a pulse."

Tragically, Chughtai succumbed to his injuries at the scene, leaving behind a community in mourning. Authorities revealed that the driver had lost control of the vehicle, veering onto the sidewalk before colliding with a light pole and fire hydrant. The force of the impact ejected Chughtai from the vehicle, ultimately leading to his untimely demise.

The crash caused considerable harm to the surrounding residences, leaving wooden planks, fence posts, and auto pieces scattered all over the decks and lawns. One resident resented the damage done to her house and voiced worries about the difficult process of handling insurance claims and rebuilding work.

"My whole property got damaged," she lamented. "The shed was brand-new. There was brand-new furniture in there. The whole fence was ripped down."

The crash resulted in serious injury to the nearby homes, with wooden planks, fence posts, and auto parts strewn across the decks and lawns. A person expressed frustration over the damage to their home and shared concerns about managing insurance claims and reconstruction, ABC 7 reported.

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