Accused Driver In Fatal Hit-And-Run Arraigned Thursday

WHITE PLAINS, NY — The alleged hit-and-run driver implicated in the death of a tow truck driver was arraigned Thursday. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. said that Anthony Mangano, 49, of Ozone Park, pleaded not guilty to one count of leaving the scene of a personal injury incident resulting in death, a felony, in the death of 32-year-old Salvatore Brescia of Stamford, CT.

Scarpino said, on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, Mangano was driving a box truck for his employer, an auto parts company on Long Island. He was traveling north on I-95 and had just passed the New Rochelle Toll Plaza,when at approximately 6:50 a.m., in the Town of Harrison, he allegedly struck and killed Brescia, who was standing in the right lane next to his tow truck. Brescia, who worked for Vincent's Towing, was assisting a driver that had broken down on the side of the highway. [Get Patch’s Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts here.]

Mangano did not stop, but instead allegedly continued driving. Police said he exited I-95 north and circled back to view the scene. At this juncture, state police and an ambulance crew had responded. Mangano again passed through the New Rochelle Toll Plaza and went passed the scene, going northbound heading to his supply run stop in Connecticut. Police said at no time did he stop to report his involvement or provide information to police.

Brescia died of his injuries which consisted of blunt impact injury to his head, neck torso and extremities. He was struck by the right side view mirror of the truck driven by the defendant, police said. The force of the impact broke the mirror off the defendant’s vehicle.

An intensive investigation by the New York State Police consisted of collecting fragments of the plastic from the broken mirror at the scene. This in turn led them to the company in Ontario, Canada, that manufactured the plastic mirror and local distributors of the mirror and eventually to the defendant’s employer.

State Police Investigators were then able to identify Mangano as the driver that left the scene on I-95 on the day of the incident. EZ Pass and cellphone records were also instrumental in this investigation, police said.

Mangano's bail was set at $10,000 cash or bond. His next court date is August 1, 2017.

Mangano faces two-and-one-third to seven years in state prison if convicted.

Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney's Office.