A hit-and-run incident in Sunset Park resulted in the death of 75-year-old Judith Byron, who was fatally struck by an SUV near her home last Saturday night. According to Gothamist, the driver ignored a red light and hit Byron as she was crossing Seventh Avenue at 41st Street with a walk signal around 9:30 p.m. NYPD officials stated that the driver then fled the scene, leaving Byron critically injured just steps from where she lived.
Authorities have been actively trying to track down the driver of the silver SUV that was reported to have been going northbound when the accident occurred. The NYPD has yet to release a detailed description or license plate number for the vehicle. Attempts to seek out witnesses or any surveillance footage that could potentially lead quickly to identify the suspect are ongoing. The aforementioned article reported a statement by the NYPD that at least three other pedestrians have been killed in the precinct this year, indicating a rise in pedestrian fatalities.
As first responders rushed to the scene, they discovered Byron with severe injuries. She was transported to Maimonides Medical Center but did not survive the trauma. ABC 7 New York confirmed that there have been no arrests made in connection with this incident, as investigators work to put together the circumstances leading up to the fatal crash.
The incident points to a persistent issue of traffic safety within the city. Despite an 18% decline in citywide traffic deaths compared to the same time last year, according to the NYPD data shared by Gothamist, the number of summonses for disobeying red lights in the 72nd precinct has risen.
