A hit-and-run accident claimed the life of a three-year-old boy on Wednesday evening, November 29, 2023, in Flushing, Queens, New York. The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. near the intersection of College Point Boulevard and 41st Avenue, a block from his home.

Under the care of his father, Jimmy Chen, Quintas Chen darted out in front of a 2014 white Infiniti Q-50 pulling out of a parking spot in a no-standing. The car struck the child and took off. 

According to surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts, the child was struck and dragged around 20 feet by the vehicle. His father and bystanders quickly removed him from the street and called emergency services. Despite efforts to save his life, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Within 24 hours of the incident, the New York Police Department (NYPD ) located the abandoned Infiniti several blocks away and arrested the driver, 20-year-old Kevin Gomez of Queens, NY, for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and unlicensed operation of a vehicle. Gomez only had a learner’s permit and New York law only allows permit holders to drive with another licensed driver. He also had a history of reckless driving and collisions.

The Chen family, deeply affected by the loss, described Quintas as a beloved and sweet boy. His mother, choosing to remain unnamed, recalled his kindness and his efforts to teach English to his grandparents.

Law enforcement officials are continuing their investigation into the incident. The NYPD has set up an electronic sign at the scene, urging anyone with information about the tragedy to come forward. 

Queens Assembly Member Ron Kim also noted that the vehicle was registered to a business, and the investigation is ongoing.

The boy’s parents have expressed their desire to transport their son’s remains to Oklahoma, where his grandparents reside.