Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of CARY BROWN, 29, and MARCOS VEGA-PAGAN, 24, for a hit-and-run on the Henry Hudson Parkway that killed 42-year-old Joel Quintana, a father of six.

Both defendants are charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree; one count of Assault in the First Degree; one count of Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting – Causing Death; and one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide. VEGA-PAGAN is also charged with one count of Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree. BROWN is charged with one count of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree. [1]  

“When our highways and streets turn into playgrounds for cars, it leads to tragedy,” said District Attorney Bragg. “These defendants displayed extreme recklessness and negligence when they allegedly raced down the Henry Hudson Parkway. Now, Mr. Quintana’s six children and all of his loved ones are mourning his painful loss.”  

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on August 3, 2023, at approximately 10:50 p.m., BROWN and VEGA-PAGAN were racing each other in their cars, southbound, on the Henry Hudson Parkway. Near 145th Street, both cars were driving at approximately 80 to 90 miles per hour when VEGA-PAGAN allegedly slammed his BMW into Mr. Quintana, who was riding his motorcycle to work. Mr. Quintana was thrown onto the road and BROWN then ran him over. Both BROWN and VEGA-PAGAN sped away from the scene.  

The next day, VEGA-PAGAN allegedly contacted State Farm falsely claiming that the damage to his vehicle occurred when his car was struck while parked.

Assistant D.A.s Taylor Holland and Andrea Kimmel are handling the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A.s Harrison Schweiloch and Annie Siegel (Deputy Chiefs of Trial Bureau 60) and Charles Whitt (Chief of Trial Bureau 60), and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Investigator Luis Chuquiralao is also assisting with the case.  

D.A. Bragg thanked NYPD Officer Ronny Valdez and Detective Ramon Pina.

Defendant Information: 

CARY BROWN

Brooklyn, NY 

Charged: 

• Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count 
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting Causing Death, a class D felony, one count 
• Criminally Negligent Homicide, a class E felony, one count 
• Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree, one count  

MARCOS VEGA-PAGAN

New York, NY 

Charged: 

• Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count 
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree, a class D felony, one count 
• Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting Causing Death, a class D felony, one count 
• Criminally Negligent Homicide, a class E felony, one count 
• Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony, one count  

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The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.