Driver Strikes Pedestrians on Coney Island Sidewalk

Introduction to the Incident

A driver reversed onto a Coney Island sidewalk on Wednesday afternoon and struck three people, according to the NYPD.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
One person is dead and two others injured after a driver struck them on a Coney Island sidewalk on Wednesday afternoon. 

Details of the Accident

Police said an 86-year-old man driving a Chrysler minivan reversed over the curb outside a shopping center near 535 Neptune Ave. and hit three pedestrians who were standing on the sidewalk: two 75-year-old women and a 43-year-old woman. 
One of the women was rushed to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where she was pronounced dead. The other two victims were taken to Maimonides Medical Center in stable condition, per the NYPD.
The driver may have been having a medical episode when the crash occurred, sources said.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
A law enforcement source said the driver may have been having a stroke during the crash. Police confirmed that he was taken to Maimonides Medical Center, where he was also stable as of Wednesday afternoon. 

Aftermath and Investigation

Police withheld the name of the woman who died, pending family notification, and did not release the name of the driver. No arrests have been made, and an investigation is ongoing. 
One victim’s rolling grocery cart remained wedged in a tree pit in front of the shopping center as police canvassed the scene after the crash, and the force of the collision appeared to have shattered a glass fence panel at the edge of the sidewalk. 
The force of the crash crumpled the vehicle’s rear bumper and appeared to have shattered a glass fence panel. Photo by Lloyd Mitchell

Context of Recent Incidents

The incident was southern Brooklyn’s second serious crash in just three days. On Monday night, an 11-year-old boy was critically injured in a hit-and-run in nearby Gravesend. 
In Brooklyn, vehicle collisions are down nearly 10% compared to last year, per the latest NYPD statistics, and crashes involving pedestrians are down roughly 6%. Though the number of crashes has declined, fatalities have spiked — total crash-related fatalities are up 7% and pedestrian deaths are up nearly 30%, and at least 35 pedestrians had died in vehicle collisions as of Oct 12. 

Conclusion

This tragic incident highlights the importance of road safety and the need for vigilance among drivers, particularly when it comes to pedestrian-heavy areas like sidewalks. The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, and it is crucial that all factors, including potential medical episodes, are thoroughly examined to prevent such incidents in the future.

FAQs

• What happened in Coney Island? A driver reversed onto a sidewalk, striking three pedestrians and resulting in one fatality and two injuries.
• What might have caused the accident? Sources suggest the driver may have been experiencing a medical episode, potentially a stroke, at the time of the crash.
• What are the current statistics on vehicle collisions in Brooklyn? Vehicle collisions are down nearly 10% compared to last year, but fatalities have increased, with pedestrian deaths up nearly 30%.
• Is this an isolated incident? No, it is part of a larger trend of accidents in the area, with another serious crash occurring just days before in Gravesend.
• What is the status of the investigation? The investigation is ongoing, with no arrests made as of the latest reports.