NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The MTA bus driver accused of fatally striking a 69-year-old man and fleeing the scene last month on Staten Island was arrested, police said Wednesday.
Darrell Sweet, 52, was charged Tuesday with leaving the scene of a fatal accident and failure to exercise due care.
The New York Daily News reports that investigators at first were uncertain if Sweet realized he had struck Patrick Varriale, but court records show he knew when it happened.
"I should have stopped," he told cops, while court documents added Sweet "did drive away from the scene without stopping or reporting the incident."
Sweet, who was behind the wheel of a SIM10 bus heading east on Forest Hill Road, turned left onto Platinum Avenue and struck Varriale as he crossed the intersection around 4:38 a.m. on May 13, according to police.
Sweet continued to travel north before Varriale, an employee of the American Federation of Musicians who lived a quarter-mile away, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 15-year MTA veteran was removed from duty without pay pending a pre-disciplinary suspension, officials said.
The Daily News reports he was released without bail after his arraignment in Staten Island Criminal Court.
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