61-Year-Old Woman Struck By Car Dies, Driver Charged

The 61-year-old woman who was struck by a car on Cropsey Avenue died Tuesday and the driver has been charged, police say.

Alexander Smotritsky, 39, was charged with violating highway law and failure to exercise due care for the collision which landed Xia Li Yue in the hospital with fatal wounds. An investigation found that she was trying to cross the street, and Smotritsky’s car hit her as he was turning right from 21st Avenue onto Cropsey Avenue.

EMS transported Yue to Lutheran hospital, where she died. Smotritsky remained on the scene and was placed under arrest.

A section of Cropsey Avenue was blocked off for the police investigation Monday morning, and residents were asked not to leave their homes.

A tipster sent us these photos of the scene: