In late December of last year, New York City officials announced that pedestrian traffic deaths had risen for the first time since Mayor Bill de Blasio took office. As of December 22nd of 2019, there were 215 traffic fatalities citywide, which was up from 195 in 2018. 117 of those fatalities were pedestrians, compared to 111 in 2018. Overall, the numbers since de Blasio took office are still down, with many commending his Vision Zero initiative for the decrease. However, the number of bicyclist deaths rose sharply in 2019, more than doubling the number in 2018. So far, 2020 has seen 22 pedestrians struck and killed in the city, the latest fatality being a 7-year-old boy as NBC New York reports.
The accident occurred in East New York on Thursday around 8:15 A.M. This is the second tragic pedestrian fatality for the Brooklyn neighborhood in two days.
The boy’s mother was walking him to school near Blake and Pennsylvania Avenues when they were struck. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition where he later succumbed to his injuries. His mother received minor injuries in the crash.
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The driver of the Jeep who hit the boy and his mother while making a right-hand turn remained at the scene of the accident. Police said that the 48-year-old female driver was driving on a suspended license. She was taken into custody, but it was not immediately apparent what charges she would be facing.
Crossing guards were assigned to the intersection later that afternoon. Neighbors indicated that this was the first time they have ever seen crossing guards at that particular intersection, despite many problems.
Less than 48 hours before this accident and less than two miles away, another young girl was struck and killed by a school bus. The bus driver is facing charges in that accident.
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