The speeding hit-and-run driver responsible for killing 64-year-old grandfather Hua Pan on April 5 surrendered to authorities on Thursday, but says he didn’t know that he’d struck the cyclist until he watched it on the news the next day.
“I did what I thought was a responsible thing,” Bronx resident Emilio Berrios told the Daily News.
“It wasn’t until the next morning on the news,” said Berrios, 31. “I seen it on the TV, I put two and two [together] around the timing.”
“I felt beyond confused and my heart sank to my stomach,” he added.
Berrios, accompanied by his lawyer, Nicholas Ramcharitar, turned himself in to police at the 49th Precinct stationhouse in the Bronx at noon on Thursday.
He emerged about an hour later after talking to investigators. He was not charged with a crime.
“We had a good meeting with the detectives,” said Ramcharitar. “Mr. Berrios was as open and as honest as possible. We’ve answered each and every question to the best of Mr. Berrios’ ability.”
NYPD Highway officers will continue their investigation, said the lawyer, which could take up to two months.
“I believe that investigation will, God willing, conclude through no fault of Mr. Berrios in regards to the accident,” said Ramcharitar.
“It’s rough,” said Berrios outside the precinct. “I’m just doing my part so the family can have peace.”
He wanted to turn himself in last Thursday, but Highway Patrol was only interested if he would make a full statement, which he was not prepared to do, according to Ramcharitar.
Berrios was riding in a friend’s pickup truck the night of April 5, when the friend pulled over saying he wasn’t feeling very well. Berrios got behind the wheel and took over driving.
Berrios said he has a driver’s license and had just transferred it from Florida to New York.
“Considering that it’s not my truck, I’m not used to it,” said Berrios. “It had limo tinting 5% all around,”
“That night the weather was terrible, it…
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