A Queens man died after being thrown off the hood of a BMW while attempting to stop a thief who was breaking into his SUV, authorities reported on Thursday.
Mauro Chimbay, 43, was playing volleyball in Gorman Playground in Jackson Heights when he observed someone smash the back passenger glass of his Toyota Highlander about 3 p.m. – a witness informed CBS New York on Wednesday.
After scurrying across the street, Chimbay confronted the thief, who had taken a shopping bag containing merchandise that Chimbay had purchased from the SUV parked on 85th St. close to 25th Ave.
The criminal leaped into the passenger seat of a BMW and the driver started to drive away while the two guys argued. In an attempt to halt them, Chimbay sprang upon the hood. He was subsequently thrown off the hood when the motorist accelerated, according to the police.
Chimbay was taken by ambulance to Elmhurst Hospital, where he passed away from severe head injuries. Police said that he was a resident of Woodside. The getaway driver and the criminal fled in the BMW with Massachusetts license plates, and they have not been apprehended. According to police, they were last seen traveling north on 85th St.
