In the early hours of Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, a woman was tragically killed in a Brooklyn hit-and-run accident. The unidentified woman was crossing the Bay Parkway near 86th St. in Bensonhurst when a private sanitation truck travelling eastbound on 86th St. suddenly struck her. The accident is being investigated by the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad.
After reviewing surveillance videos in the area, police determined that the accident occurred around 4:00 a.m. in the area below the Bay Parkway D train station. The driver did not remain at the scene; it is currently unclear if the driver realized a pedestrian was hit.
Investigators hope the driver will come forward after this horrifying event. Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones during this difficult time.
A witness at the scene described the shocking incident. “To hit her that hard, it doesn’t make sense. It’s very vicious. It’s very hard. She’s in pieces. She was in pieces,” Valentin Rodriguez told reporters. Rodriguez, a resident in the area, discovered the body during his routine morning walk. While walking, he saw the mutilated body of a woman he recognized in the middle of the Bay Parkway.
Police were called and, sadly, pronounced the woman dead at the scene. The NYPD Deputy Chief, Charles Scholl, told reporters, “We will solve this, but these accidents are happening more and more. We encourage our elderly pedestrians to be careful when they cross the street.”
This incident marks the sixth pedestrian death in just the first two weeks of the New Year, the second death involving a sanitation truck.
Despite efforts on behalf of Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero Action Plan, pedestrian fatalities in NYC are not decreasing. The Vision Zero Plan aims to improve pedestrian safety in the city through efforts including:
- Criminal charges against traffic violators
- Speed limit reductions
- Increased traffic law enforcement
- Slow Zones
While these efforts are necessary, the issue of pedestrian safety remains prevalent for New Yorkers. In the area where this tragic accident occurred, pedestrians are forced to cross several lanes of traffic on the Bay Parkway in order to reach their bus or the elevated D train. Continuous change is needed in our city’s design to effectively increase pedestrian safety.
The lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy are aware of the dangers pedestrians face. We work diligently to obtain justice for those who have been severely injured as a result another party’s negligence.
Notable results include:
- $32,756,156 verdict for a Vietnam veteran who suffered severe injuries after being struck by a driver under the influence of drugs
- $12,000,000 ($71,643,000 Anticipated payout) for a child that was seriously injured after he was struck by a car that jumped the curb where he was standing
- $8,000,000 settlement for a pedestrian that suffered severe brain injuries after a car jumped the sidewalk and hit her on her way to pick her grandchildren up from school
If you or someone you know has been severely injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, call the Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy at 212-736-5300 or fill out our online contact form for a free, no-obligation legal consultation.