Suspect arrested after fatal hit-and-run crash that killed future groom and his cousin

Police arrested the driver on Friday on suspicion of leaving a prospective groom and his cousin for dead in a serious crash on the Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan after first ramming the car of an off-duty NYPD police officer, police sources said.

The driver of a Chevy Silverado pickup truck responsible for killing groom-to-be Kirk Walker Jr., 38, and his cousin Robert McLaurin, 40, was taken to the 33rd Precinct station in Washington Heights to await arraignment, sources said.

The fatal hit-and-run was triggered by an accident that had occurred earlier when the Silverado collided with the vehicle of an off-duty NYPD Transit police officer.

The Chevy driver fled the accident and was pursued by the off-duty police officer.

The driver of the pickup truck then drove onto the Henry Hudson – in the opposite direction – and collided head-on with a Dodge Challenger carrying Walker and McLaurin near W. 154th Street in Washington Heights at around 2:20 a.m. on Aug. 24, police said.

According to police, a Toyota Rav 4 was also spotted while the Chevy was traveling in the opposite direction on Henry Hudson Parkway. It remains unclear if the Toyota was driven by the off-duty officer.

The truck driver also crashed into an Audi S3 carrying a 27-year-old man and his 28-year-old passenger before coming to a stop.

The driver abandoned the Chevy and fled on foot, leaving his 21-year-old passenger behind as the pickup burst into flames.

The suspect's passenger was taken to hospital in stable condition and no charges have been filed against him, police said.

Walker Jr.'s bride-to-be said she looks forward to seeing justice for her fiancé and his cousin now that the suspected killer has been caught.

“As a family, we are relieved to take the first step toward getting justice for Kirk and Robert,” Shantae Weave said. “We will not allow Kirk and Robert's lives to be taken in vain and will continue to work to prevent such things from happening again.”

Walker's relatives and several members of the wedding party were riding in cars behind Walker's Challenger when the accident occurred, and his father even attempted to resuscitate him before first responders arrived.

The family was stunned and torn between plans to celebrate a wedding and planning funerals.

“I was so overjoyed,” Walker's bride-to-be told The News about their wedding plans. “He planned this [wedding]. I'm a very simple and reserved person and Kirk said, 'You're a princess. You deserve this grand wedding.' He gave me a beautiful engagement ring. I had huge 'Marry Me' signs and balloons and flowers.”