Hero to Hoax?

After a vehicle crash last year in New York, a Bronx man was video taped trying to help crash victims. That same video came back to haunt him later though, when it led to his arrest for insurance fraud.

According to CBS New York, an 18-wheeler lost control and jack-knifed on Major Deegan Expressway on September 22^nd. Luckily, Juan Hernandez was driving by, because he ran over to check on the injured drivers after the tractor trailer smashed into a car and pinned it against the center barrier. He is even seen climbing into the cab of the truck to rescue the trapped driver.

A surveillance video of the crash was shown to Hernandez’s neighbors by a news reporter, Hazel Sanchez.

“That’s the kindness of his heart,” neighbor Betty Dennis said.

“He’s a good guy. He’s a great guy, actually,” Joseph Drew added.

After a while however, this Good Samaritan’s deed began to look more and more like a scam. Police stated that Hernandez quickly looked for a way to cash in, telling responding officers that he was hurt in the accident.

The police also noted that, after being taken to the hospital by ambulance, Hernandez went on to make more than $21,000 from medical insurance claims. After his insurance company noticed this red flag, they confirmed Hernandez’s lies by watching the highway surveillance tape.

Insurance experts said bogus accident claims have skyrocketed. Last year fraudulent claims in the no-fault private passenger market constituted an additional $241 million,” said Michael Barry, VP of Media Relations for the Insurance Information Institute.

After hearing the story, Hernandez’s neighbors had a change of heart.

“It is sad that you gonna try to milk somebody for money that you don’t deserve,” Dennis said.

“People always trying to get something over. There’s a lot of scam artists. It’s just wrong,” Drew added.

While the other drivers involved in the accident were treated for minor injuries, the driver of the car pinned against a barrier collected a total of $200 for his.

Along with his arrest, Hernandez was charged with insurance fraud, grand larceny and falsifying business records.