A cyclist was fatally struck by a Fire Department of New York (FDNY) emergency vehicle in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood on Wednesday evening, as confirmed by local authorities. The incident occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m. at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Sackett Street.
According to a report by ABC7 New York, the victim, identified as 24-year-old Victor Hidalgo of the Bronx, was riding a bicycle when he was struck by the FDNY vehicle that was swiftly responding to a call concerning a baby choking. Eyewitness News learned that the vehicle in question was an EMS ambulance.
Following the collision, Hidalgo was transported to the NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Footage from the scene displayed significant damage to the FDNY truck, including a destroyed headlight. The driver of the EMS vehicle stayed at the site of the accident following the incident.
The driver, a 44-year-old man whose identity has not been disclosed, had not been charged as of the latest updates. "No charges had been filed against the driver of the truck as of Thursday evening," News 12 The Bronx reported. The FDNY has stated that the crash is currently under investigation to definitely ascertain the circumstances surrounding it.
The community of Park Slope, accustomed to the coalescence of resident cyclists and the traffic-serving city's needs, is now once again grappling to understand yet another tragedy struck by the untimely intersection of emergency response and urban cycling. Further information is expected to be released as investigations by the NYPD and FDNY continue.
