Man Charged In Double Patchogue Hit-And-Run That Left 1 Dead: Police

PATCHOGUE, NY — A man was arrested and charged after a pedestrian was struck by two hit-and-run drivers and died in Patchogue early Sunday, police said.

Elian Zurado-Zavala, 19, of Bay Shore, was arrested at his home Monday and charged with leaving the scene of an accident with a fatality, Suffolk County police said.

Following an investigation by major case unit detectives, Jurado-Zavala was identified as the driver of the white 2014 Honda Civic that struck Nicholas Puzio, 25, of Farmingville at 4 a.m. at the intersection of Medford Avenue and Oak Street, police said.

One minute later, Puzio, who later died at Long Island Community Hospital, was struck by a driver of a gray Nissan Armada who also fled the scene, police said.

Jurado-Zavala was held overnight at the Third Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Tuesday.

The investigation into the identity of the second driver is ongoing. Anyone with information is
asked to call detectives at 631-852-6553 or Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-
800-220-TIPS.