Robert Maraj, the 64-year-old father of rapper Nicki Minaj died over the weekend after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver in New York, police announced Sunday.
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| Photo: Courtesy of Nicki Minaj | Instagram |
Maraj, was walking along a road in Mineola, New York, when he was hit by a car that kept going, according to the authorities.
Nassau County Police said that Robert Maraj was
walking along a road on Long Island on Friday evening when he was struck by an
unidentified driver who then fled the scene.
Robert Maraj was transported to an area hospital in a
critical condition, and then was declared dead from injuries sustained from the
crash on Saturday, according to police.
Authorities are asking witnesses to the fatal crash to
come forward. An investigation into the incident is currently ongoing, with no
arrests made so far.
Nicki Minaj, 38, was born Onika Tanya Maraj in
Trinidad and was raised in Queens, New York. She has not made any public
statement about her father’s death as of this writing.
Minaj announced her plans to retire and focus on her
family in late 2019, after a successful career in the music industry, during
which she amassed a record number of Hot 100 hits and ranked among music’s
highest-paid women.