An elderly man was run over by a tractor-trailer Thursday afternoon while crossing a busy Bronx street, police sources said.
Ignacio Cubano, 69, was crossing East 138th Street at around 1:39 p.m. when a Peterbuilt semi-trailer turned from Saint Anns Place, crushing the man beneath the trucks wheels, cops said.
“The driver never saw the little old man — and it wasn’t like the truck was speeding. He was going really slow,” one neighbor said.
The victim’s relative, Lillian Cubano, later released a statement addressing the tragedy.
“At the time he was struck by the truck, he had just left his home to buy his grandson a cake,” the statement reads. “His grandson’s birthday was the following day but he wanted to surprise him with a small one. Unfortunately, he never made it back.”
Relatives said Cubano worked at Metropolitan Hospital for many years. He also volunteered at St. Luke’s Church.
He leaves behind a wife, three children and five grandchildren.
“After retirement he dedicated his life to taking care of and watching over his grandchildren while his children worked,” relatives said. “It has been a tragedy to lose such a wonderful Father, Husband, Grandfather, Brother and Uncle. His smile, laughter and kind heart will be sorely missed.”