His employer at has been our only angle on the life of Luis Zhizhpon, fatally struck by a car while riding his bike along Route 9 Monday night. Zhizhpon seems to have lead a simple, hard-working life in his time in this country, a time tragically cut short.
Hector Castillo, manager of the Mexican restaurant on Route 9 in Briarcliff Manor where Zhihzpon had worked about two years, said most of Zhihzpon's family is back in Ecuador. Castillo didn't think Zhizhpon had any children, at least not in this country.
Both Zhizhpon's parents live in Ecuador, Castillo said. He said that the immediate relatives in the area here are an uncle and a sister. Police listed Zhizhpon, 28, as having a Sleepy Hollow address.
A memorial service is being planned at a Tarrytown church at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Castillo said. The restaurant staff was waiting to hear back from the family on the details and eager to help in any way possible.
“We're going to do whatever we can to support them,” Castillo said. “He was a good friend and an excellent person.”
Of the tragic accident, he said, “It could have been anyone.”
Sleepy Hollow Police Lieutenant Frank Hrotko said Friday morning that the department is still waiting for the findings of the accident investigation by that special division of the Ossining Police, who were called in to assist with the case. "We haven't dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's yet," Hrotko said.
The driver, Carlos Loja, 59, of Tarrytown, has not been charged pending the outcome of the investigation. He was driving a Nissan Pathfinder. At the scene, Loja was given several sobriety field tests which he passed with no sign of alcohol.
