Joel Mota dies in fatal Brooklyn shooting/car crash
Joel Mota dies in fatal Brooklyn shooting/car crash
Fatal Brooklyn shooting/car crash death of Joel Mota
A 22-year-old Brooklyn moped rider, Joel Mota, with aspirations of becoming a condo developer, died tragically after his vehicle collided with a car driven by a 29-year-old woman who was both intoxicated and unlicensed, according to police reports released Sunday. Cops stated that the incident occurred when Mota was traveling south on Third Avenue in Bay Ridge around 4:45 a.m. on Saturday.
Mota succumbed to severe head and torso injuries at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, as confirmed by law enforcement officials.
His brother, Francisco Mota, 28, shared his profound grief and praised his sibling’s character, stating, “He was a hardworking man. He had a lot of love for his family.” He continued, “He was always passionate about the things that he did.” The younger brother was only a short distance from home when the accident happened.
The driver of the Acura TSX, identified as Leslie Moreno, a 21-year-old woman who was also a passenger on Mota’s moped, sustained multiple fractures involving his left arm and leg. She was transported to the same medical facility and is expected to make a full recovery.
Police arrested Moreno on charges including driving while intoxicated, driving while her ability was impaired, and driving without a valid license. She appeared in court later and was released without posting bail.
Francisco Mota indicated his intention to follow the case’s progress when his brother’s driver’s license case is revisited in September, expressing hope to participate as a concerned family member. “We’ll see how it goes forth,” he shared. “Hopefully we get to be there for the trial, if there is a trial, and be able to talk on my brother’s behalf. But other than that, just on my behalf, there’s no hate.”
Mota, originally from Brooklyn and a high school graduate of the borough, was deeply loved by his family. He was particularly cherished by his brother’s two young daughters, whom he frequently entertained with ice cream and engaged with during playtime. “He was a very cool uncle type of person,” Francisco remarked. “Always took them out for ice cream, always played with them, always he was there for them.” The family remembered his relentless work ethic, noting he took on various jobs including construction and restaurant work to support himself.
His ultimate dream involved returning to Mexico to establish a business, specifically focusing on building condominiums and tapping into the local tourism industry. “His dream was to go back to Mexico and start a business there,” Francisco explained. “Start building stuff. He had property out there and he just wanted to build condominiums and just get into the real estate game out there, into the tourist and travel business. He just dedicated himself to that. That’s what his dream was to do.” Tragically, the brothers had only spoken a week before the incident. “We just told each other we love each other,” Francisco recalled, concluding the conversation with “and that’s it.”