Story by Ethan
On January 13th, 2026, the arrest of Julio Cachago, age 53, was announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr.. Julio Cachago was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting, Criminally Negligent Homicide, Causing Physical Injury Against the Right of Way to Pedestrians and Bicyclists, License Restriction Violation, Causing Serious Physical Injury Due to Failure of a Driver to Exercise Due Care, and Unlicensed Driving. The arrest and charges against Julio Cachago were a result of an investigation handled by Detective Keith Smith of the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad.
According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 6:56 p.m. on December 19th, 2025, Julio Cachago was allegedly driving alongside a passenger on the Lower East Side in a 2020 Ford Edge. The defendant had approached the crosswalk at Clinton Street and Stanton Street where he initially stopped to let a pedestrian cross with the right of way. Following shortly after the first pedestrian, 76-year-old Yong Li attempted to also cross the street with the right of way as the walk signal was on. Allegedly Julio Cachago struck and continued to run over Yong Li while operating the 2020 Ford Edge. After the alleged collision the defendant paused for a moment before driving away from the scene. Yong Li was transported by ambulance to Bellevue Hospital before being pronounced as dead. Approximately 20 minutes after the accident Julio Cachago allegedly pulled over at Liberty Street and Cedar Street to inspect the front of his vehicle for damage. After taking a minute to look at his car, the defendant allegedly drove it to the Bronx, New York, and left it there. The NYPD was able to locate the abandoned vehicle and tow it later that evening. The next day Julio Cachago allegedly called both 311 and 911 to report his vehicle as missing, leading to his subsequent arrest after being directed to NYPD’s 7th Precinct.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Julio Cachago are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
