Brooklyn driver who killed pedestrian in high speed hit and run sentenced to prison
BROOKLYN, NY — A Brooklyn man who tore through Bedford-Stuyvesant at more than 50 miles per hour before fatally striking a pedestrian and fleeing the scene has been sentenced to prison, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said 32-year-old Jerry Gelle was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison in connection with the deadly hit-and-run crash that killed 49-year-old Felix Mendez.
Gelle previously pleaded guilty March 11 to second-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
According to prosecutors, the crash happened Oct. 10, 2024, at about 3:05 a.m. as Gelle drove a gray 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Bedford Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Investigators said surveillance video showed the SUV traveling about 53 miles per hour while running multiple red lights, driving through bike lanes and triggering speed cameras moments before the crash.
At the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Lafayette Avenue, prosecutors said Gelle ran a steady red light and struck Mendez as he crossed inside a marked crosswalk.
Mendez died from the impact.
Authorities said Gelle fled the scene without stopping to render aid or report the crash.
Investigators later determined the defendant continued driving recklessly after the collision, running additional red lights and stop signs before abandoning the SUV about four blocks away.
Prosecutors said Gelle attempted to sanitize the inside of the vehicle before leaving it behind.
DNA recovered from the Jeep’s gear shift and surveillance footage later linked Gelle to the crash.
He was arrested in July 2025.
District Attorney Gonzalez called the defendant’s actions reckless and selfish, saying the sentence reflects the seriousness of the deadly crash and the decision to flee.
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Key Points
• Brooklyn driver sentenced to five to 10 years in fatal hit-and-run case
• Prosecutors say defendant drove more than 50 mph through red lights
• Victim Felix Mendez was struck and killed in Bedford-Stuyvesant crosswalk