12-Year-Old Boy Hit By Car On Prospect Park West

POSTED 5:56pm: At about 5:15pm on Tuesday, a young boy was hit by a car on Prospect Park West at 3rd Street. According to the FDNY, they received a call about a 12-year-old boy being struck by a car, but they say the child was transported by Hatzolah, so they could not provide info on the boy’s condition, though there are reports on Twitter about serious injuries. There are also reports that the NYPD crash investigators have been requested to the scene.

Neighbor Keith Williams of The Weekly Nabe was nearby when it happened, and notes the vehicle involved may have been a van, and that the driver is being questioned by police.

We will update this post as we learn more. Our hearts go out to the boy and his family, and we’re hoping for the best.

UPDATE 11:45pm: We are sorry to report that the NYPD has confirmed what a neighbor shared in the comments. The young boy passed away due to injuries sustained in the incident.

Police have released the identity of the boy, Samuel Cohen-Eckstein, who lived in a building on Prospect Park West at the scene of the incident. When police arrived, they say officers found the boy with trauma to his torso, and EMS transported him to Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police say an investigation revealed that Samuel ran into Prospect Park West, from the east side toward the west, when he was struck by a white 2006 Chevrolet van that was traveling southbound on Prospect Park West. As previously mentioned, the operator remained on scene. The NYPD says they did not make an arrest or issue a summons, but the investigation is ongoing.

A website announcing Samuel’s — called Sammy — bar mitzvah notes that he was preparing to celebrate the big occasion in just over a month from now at Kolot Chayeinu here in Park Slope. A page about gifts says that he was planning to donate a portion of his to Heifer International.

His parents, Amy Cohen and Gary Eckstein, were interviewed in a Los Angeles Times story about cycling in NYC in 2008, in which they said that they walked their two children to school in the morning before riding to work in Manhattan. After mentioning some dangerous instances, they said they felt there was a growing bicycling awareness.

“The city feels much safer than when we started,” Cohen told the LA Times. “It even feels safe in the dark.”

Our deepest condolences to the boy’s family and friends. If anyone knows of ways that neighbors can help them during this difficult time, please leave a comment below, or contact us at editor@bklyner.com.