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Bronx Father Killed in Hit-and-Run With Livery Cab, NYPD Says

By  Trevor Kapp and Aidan Gardiner | June 13, 2017 9:11am 

 A livery cab knocked Gabriel Garcia into the path of another car that then ran him over at East 138th Street and Walton Avenue, police said.
A livery cab knocked Gabriel Garcia into the path of another car that then ran him over at East 138th Street and Walton Avenue, police said.
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DNAinfo/Trevor Kapp

MOTT HAVEN — A Bronx father was killed when a livery cab knocked him into the path of another car before fleeing Monday night, NYPD officials said.

Gabriel Garcia, 28, was trying to cross East 138th Street, near Walton Avenue, about 10:24 p.m. when a dark sedan with Taxi and Limousine Commission plates heading eastbound knocked him into the path of a 2017 Toyota Camry directly behind it, police said.

The Camry ran Garcia over, and both cars stopped before driving off again, police said.

Garcia, who has a daughter, was pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital, police said.

The Camry driver returned to the scene and spoke to responding officers, police said. The driver was not immediately charged, police said.

The livery cab's driver hadn't been located as of Tuesday morning, police said.

TLC officials didn't immediately return a request for comment.

Family remembered Garcia as a kind man and loving father who loved playing video games.

"He was always hands on, willing to help. He put his feelings aside to make sure everyone was good before he was. He was kind-hearted, approachable and grateful," said cousin Rafael Garcia, 26.

"He had a little girl. He raved about his daughter. He'd always say, 'My little girl is doing this and that. I love my daughter,'" the cousin added.

Garcia was humble and down to earth, family said.

"His dream was just to take care of his family. He wasn't flashy and into fancy things. He just wanted to make sure his family was OK," his cousin said.

Family were shocked by Garcia's sudden death.

"It's devastating. You live in a bubble and never think it'll happen to you, but the things you least expect can happen to anyone," Garcia said.