A Bronx man was busted after police said he claimed to be injured in an accident last year that video showed he was not involved in, authorities said today.
Gabriel Leon Hernandez, 33, was charged Wednesday with second-degree insurance fraud, second-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records after he claimed to being injured as a result of a Sept. 22, 2010 tractor trailer accident that occurred on the approach to the RFK Triboro Bridge.
But Hernandez’s account fell apart when the NYPD obtained a video capturing the collision.
The accident involved an 18-wheeler that overturned on top of another vehicle against the center barrier as they came through the off the Queens-bound ramp from the Major Deegan Expressway.
Cops said Hernandez stopped his vehicle “in front of the overturned tractor and proceeds to assist the occupants of the vehicle involved in the accident.”
When Triboro Bridge and Tunnel Authority cops respond to the scene Hernandez reported that he “was involved in the accident and was injured.”
The TBTA officers filled out an accident report with Hernandez’s vehicle being involved in the accident. The NYPD said Hernandez was not involved in the accident.
Since the accident, Hernandez has sought medical treatment at a clinic in the Bronx and has produced bills to his insurance company for shoulder surgery and other treatments. His insurance company has paid $21,184.96 in medical bills and $1,254.35 for fixing damages allegedly sustained to his vehicle.
Prior to his arrest, cops said Hernandez had also retained a lawyer and initiated a lawsuit for bodily injury against the insurer of the tractor-trailer.
Both the driver of the truck and the driver of vehicle pinned against the center barrier were not severely injured.
Cops said the driver of the vehicle pinned against the barrier only collected a total of $200 for his injuries.
With AP