A deadly accident on City Island involving a car and a biker tragically resulted in a death this past weekend.
On Friday, September 11, 27-year old Gabriela Aguilar-Vallinos was killed in a hit and run incident after she was struck by a car while biking home from work shortly before midnight on Friday night.
Aguilar-Vallinos, who worked as a waitress at Sammy’s Shrimp Box, 64 City Island Avenue, was leaving City Island, travelling on her bike towards home following her shift, when a two-door, white 2015 Hyundai Genesis slammed into her on the northwest corner of the City Island Bridge and City Island Road as she was heading westbound at about 11:45 p.m. on Friday evening.
According to a video provided by the 45th Precinct, the driver of the Hyundai, who left the scene immediately following the incident, was seen leaving Seafood City, 459 City Island Avenue, minutes before the incident occurred.
Shortly following a left-handed turn from Bowne Street onto City Island Avenue, the driver collided with Aguilar-Vallinos, who was biking back to her home in Soundview.
When police responded to the report of the bike collision, Aguilar-Vallinos was found unconscious and unresponsive with severe head trauma.
She was taking by the Emergency Medical Services to Jacobi Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The 45th Precinct could not confirm if Aguilar-Vallinos was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.
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The precinct could also not confirm if her bike had lights on it, which could have played a factor in the collision.
After the incident, police shut down the City Island Bridge for two hours in an unsuccessful attempt to find the vehicle.
Police are still actively searching for the driver responsible and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying and locating the driver.
To the people that worked with her, Gabriela was an energetic and friendly employee who was all about making her customers happy.
“She was one of the best, hardest working employees we’ve ever had here”, said Abel Gamiz, manager of Sammy’s Shrimp Box, who worked with Gabriella for six months.
Gamiz also said that she biked to and from work instead of using the Bx29, City Island’s only bus line, more than likely to save money on transportation.
“Customers would ask where she was on her days off – they loved her so much. It is a very tragic loss – for her family, friends, and for (Sammy’s Shrimp Box), because to us, she was also like family,” he added.
“It’s a terrible tragedy, especially considering the fact that she was so young,” said John Doyle, corresponding secretary for the City Island Civic Association. “Hopefully the driver turns himself in and he is brought to justice.”
