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NYC, NY, USA - Aug 03, 2022

A man was charged with two counts of manslaughter for allegedly killing a salsa dancer and Cardi B's friend when he ran a red light at 50mph and caused a car to crash into them.

Leandro Diaz Ramirez, 28, was behind the wheel of the speeding BMW when he crashed into a Subaru - which then crushed the two pedestrians in Inwood, New York.

Joel Adames, 31, and David Fernandez, 40, were killed in the August 3 crash - with artist Cardi B, who was a pal of the deceased, leading the tributes and memorializing Adames.

Earlier that evening, Fernandez cut his friend Adames' hair, and the pair had gone for a drink before walking home on West 207th Street and Sherman Avenue around 4am.

Announcing the manslaughter charges against the Bronx man today, District Attorney Bragg said that continue to protect the safety of pedestrians and drivers on our streets.'

The BMW Ramirez was speeding at 59mph north on Sherman Avenue when it collided with a Subaru Forester SUV headed in the opposite direction at the West 207th Street intersection, police said.

He sped through a red right moments before the fatal crash. Ramirez was driving over double the speed limit.

The impact launched the SUV onto the sidewalk, where it slammed into and crushed the two men. They died from their injuries earlier this year.

The driver broke several ribs and his pelvis.

Ramirez has now been indictment by the New York State Supreme Court with two counts of manslaughter of in the second degree, one count of assault in the second degree, two counts of criminally negligent homicide and three counts of assault in the third degree.

District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr,. said: 'As alleged, this reckless speeding and driving ended in tragedy.

'Manhattanites should not be killed by drivers when they are simply walking in their neighborhood. We will continue to protect the safety of pedestrians and drivers on our streets.'

Tributes poured out for the men - who are both well known in the Inwood neighborhood.

Cardi B posted to social media about her friend Adames.

'Stupidness, negligence, I hope the worst to who committed this!' the singer wrote. 'Took someone sooo loved, full of life and just all around amazing leaving people destroy.. RIP JOEL.'

Surveillance video shows the horrific moment the two men were struck by the SUV. They appeared to be caught off guard as the massive vehicle suddenly came barreling toward them.

Dramatic photos from the scene in the aftermath of the crash shows the two men lying unconscious on the sidewalk as their blood spills onto the street. The SUV and BMW are seen in the footage, having been heavily damaged in the collision.

Family and friends gathered at a growing memorial at the scene of the crash to mourn the men, and shared good memories with local media.

Adames' family said he was getting a late night haircut by David Fernandez so that he would look fresh for his daughter's birthday celebration later in the day.

'He was just an amazing person,' said Jolemy Clasé, a lifelong friend of Fernandez, told PIX11. 'The community loved him.'

Fernandez, a beloved barber, would cut and style the hair of anyone who'd ask - at any time. He even had celebrity clients like DJ Baby Face and guitarist Max Santos.

'You call him at 2am, he'd stay open just for you,' his cousin Robert Gomez said. 'That's literally what happen[ed].'

Fernandez was also known by a different name: 'David the Dancer.'

He was a salsa instructor and also a winner of many international salsa competitions, friends told local media.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11276273/Man-28-charged-manslaughter-killing-salsa-dancer-friend-Cardi-B-speeding-car.html