Community Responds To Tragic Park Slope Crash
PARK SLOPE – Following Monday’s fatal crash that left two children dead and a pregnant mother in critical condition, Park Slope residents are expressing their frustrations with the city’s failure to fix the dangerous intersection where the tragic collision took place.
ABC New York’s Kemberly Richardson tweeted video footage of the car running the traffic light and striking pedestrians in the crosswalk.
#Exclusive watch the white car at the light. For some reason the driver goes through it, hits people in the cross walk. 2 kids are dead & a woman, who is pregnant and 1 of the kid’s mom, is in critical. The female driver is with police . More soon @ABC7NY #Parkslope #Brooklyn pic.twitter.com/svukC2lKja
— Kemberly Richardson (@kemrichardson7) March 5, 2018
An advocate for safe streets tweeted that the road’s unsafe conditions should have been addressed following a similar incident in 2016.
The intersection of 9th Street and 5th Avenue in Brooklyn, scene of today’s deadly crash, should have been completely redesigned after this 2016 fatality. Someone at @NYC_DOT is not prioritizing projects well, and children are dead today. #VisionZeropic.twitter.com/lWK1yxhmK2
— Joanna Oltman Smith (@jooltman) March 5, 2018
On February 28, 2016, a 41-year-old man was killed by a car that ran a red light and struck him as he was crossing 5th Avenue at 9th Street.
On December 12, 2016, a livery cab crashed into a discount store at 5th Avenue and 9th Street. Four people were injured during that incident.
Following Monday’s tragedy, many concerned residents have been tweeting pleas to the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), Council Member Brad Lander, and Mayor Bill de Blasio to make the poorly designed intersection safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.
#bikeNYC has called out how dangerous 9 St is for years. Drivers are constantly double parking, swerving, and suffering reduced visibility. cc @NYC_DOT https://t.co/xHOUmfb5UU
— Seth Pollack (@sethmpk) March 5, 2018
“unimaginable horribly”, yes…But not unimaginably unexpected considering the street design. Please pressure @NYC_DOT to overhaul 9th street ASAP. This road should have been revamped years ago. DOT has the talent, the CB has courage. We all need the change. #visionzero
— dave ‘paco’ abraham (@subtle116) March 5, 2018
On Tuesday, March 6, from 8:30am to 9:30am at the Park Slope YMCA—de Blasio’s gym, a rally will take place demanding that the Mayor “Fix 9th Street!”
Here is the event page for tomorrow’s rally. Please share. Come to demand that Mayor de Blasio fix 9th Street immediately. https://t.co/0QO5qcth0x
— Brooklyn Spoke (@BrooklynSpoke) March 5, 2018
“Following yet another horrific crash on 9th Street, please come to the Park Slope YMCA to call on the mayor to immediately overhaul this busy and dangerous street,” the Facebook page for the event states.
Located at 357 9th Street, this YMCA is situated just steps away from where Monday’s deadly incident occurred.
During a press conference on Monday to announce the new NYC Schools Chancellor, de Blasio said, “I will state the obvious, this loss of life is tragic and painful for all of us, particularly those of us who are parents,” WCBS 880 reported.
If it’s so “tragic and painful” for you @NYCMayor, how about committing to DOING something rather than vague “redoubling”: tell your NYPD to enforce all traffic laws, redesign streets, build protected #BikeNYC lane on 9th St #ParkSlope @BrooklynSpoke @subtle116 @transalt
— David Herman (@DHermanStudio) March 5, 2018
According to the WCBS 880 report, a witness saw the female driver heading west on 9th Street when she suddenly accelerated, hitting the pregnant mother, her daughter, a second child who was with them, and two additional pedestrians, before crashing into another car. The report states that the driver had a “medical episode,” according to police.
Earlier today DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and NYPD Chief Thomas Chan announced 50 intersections across NYC where beefed up traffic enforcement will take place. While five of these locations are in Brooklyn, the intersection at 5th Avenue and 9th Street is not among them.