Introduction to the Incident
The minivan driver who struck three pedestrians in Coney Island on Wednesday had been struck by another driver, police said.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Details of the Fatal Crash
An investigation of the fatal Coney Island crash that killed one pedestrian and injured two others has revealed more details about the incident, police said Thursday.
On Oct. 15, the driver of a minivan struck three people — an 89-year-old woman, a 75-year-old woman and 43-year-old woman — on the sidewalk outside a Neptune Avenue shopping center. The 89-year-old woman, who had initially been identified by police as being 75 years old, was rushed to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where she was pronounced dead. The other victims taken to Maimonides Medical Center in stable condition.
The 89-year-old woman has since been identified as Surf Avenue resident Klara Litvak.
Police said another driver struck the front of the red minivan and pushed it back onto the sidewalk.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Cause of the Crash
Cops initially believed the driver, an 89-year-old man, had reversed onto the sidewalk, and sources said he may have been suffering a medical episode at the time of the crash. The ongoing investigation, though, has found that an 83-year-old woman driving a Nissan Sentra struck the front of the minivan, and the collision forced the minivan to jump the curb and strike the pedestrians.
Aftermath of the Crash
The minivan driver was hospitalized in stable condition, police said, and the 83-year-old woman remained on the scene after the crash. No arrests have been made in connection with the crash.
Pedestrian Safety in Brooklyn
So far this year, pedestrian deaths resulting from car crashes are up across Brooklyn, per the latest NYPD statistics, even though the overall number of crashes is down. In the 60th Precinct, where Wednesday’s crash occurred, there had been 84 crashes involving pedestrians as of Oct. 12, up 4% from the same time last year, though the precinct had not seen any pedestrian fatalities.
Conclusion
The incident highlights the need for increased awareness and caution on the roads, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and it is crucial that all parties involved cooperate fully to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
FAQs
Q: What happened in the Coney Island crash?
A: A minivan driver struck three pedestrians, killing one and injuring two, after being struck by another vehicle.
Q: Who was the victim that died?
A: The 89-year-old woman who died has been identified as Klara Litvak.
Q: What is the current status of the investigation?
A: The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made in connection with the crash.
Q: How have pedestrian deaths changed in Brooklyn this year?
A: Pedestrian deaths resulting from car crashes are up across Brooklyn, despite the overall number of crashes being down.
