A 73-year-old woman was fatally struck by the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee at the intersection of Avenue L and East 12th Street in Midwood on Sunday.
According to police, the woman, Chana Layosh, was crossing near the Bais Horoa of Flatbush when she was hit by the vehicle, which was traveling eastbound and making a right turn just after 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 1.
Paramedics rushed the woman to Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Shopping bags could be observed laying in the roadway following the crash, which happened just steps from Layosh’s home.
The 57-year-old driver of the Jeep remained at the scene. No charges or arrests were made as of Monday morning. The investigation remains ongoing by the NYPD Highway Collision Investigation Squad.
New York City saw several serious car crashes over the holiday weekend, according to Transportation Alternatives. Three pedestrians, including Layosh, were killed by drivers, and all three were aged 60 or above. Two additional crashes left victims critically injured, including one in Brooklyn, where a motorcyclist was hospitalized after a hit-and-run.
Citywide, pedestrian deaths are up more than 15% year-over-year, according to NYPD statistics, and 105 pedestrians have been killed in traffic incidents. In Brooklyn, pedestrian deaths are up 36% year-over-year, and 34 pedestrians have been killed across the borough. Many of those crashes have involved large SUVs and trucks — including delivery and dump trucks.
“New York is failing its residents — particularly those most vulnerable on our streets,” said Transportation Alternatives deputy executive director Philip Miatkowski, in a statement. “The alarming increase in pedestrian fatalities and the deadly role of SUVs should serve as a wake-up call for all of us. We must act now. Our elected officials from City Hall to Albany need to prioritize safety and pass meaningful legislation that protects our communities. This includes daylighting intersections with curb extensions, and implementing lower speed limits to create safer streets for everyone.”
