Police: Arrest Made in Fatal Central Islip Hit-and-Run

A Central Islip man has been arrested and charged in a fatal hit-and-run in Central Islip in November, Suffolk police said Friday.

Joseph Melendez, 30, was arrested following an investigation by Vehicular Crime Unit detectives, police said.

Police say Melendez was behind the wheel of a vehicle that struck 64-year-old Lorenzo Fuentes, of Central Islip, as Fuentes was walking eastbound on Motor Parkway at Highland Road early on Nov. 9, police said.

Melendez then fled the scene, police said. Fuentes was pronounced dead at the scene.

Melendez is charged with leaving the scene of an incident without reporting involving a fatality. He will be arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip on Friday.

SCPD Photo: Joseph Melendez

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