Queens Man Arrested in Hit-Run That Killed Cyclist

The victim was hit on Greenpoint Avenue in Sunnyside

Police say a drunk driver they arrested in Queens Wednesday night turned out to be the same driver who struck a bicyclist Wednesday night, killing him. 

Police officers arrested 25-year-old Alex Batista of Long Island City in Maspeth at about 11 p.m. Wednesday after discovering him lying on the street, intoxicated, next to a black Infinity he'd crashed into a building.

Shortly before the crash, at about 9:50 p.m., a car struck a bicyclist on Greenpoint Avenue near 39th Place in Sunnyside, killing him. The cyclist, 37-year-old Roger Hernandez, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver had fled.

Investigators Thursday made the connection between the two incidents. Batista has been charged with manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, leaving an accident resulting in death, driving while intoxicated and unlawful possession marijuana. 

It wasn't clear if Batista had an attorney. 

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