An 86-year-old driver accidentally backed his SUV onto a Coney Island sidewalk yesterday, killing an 89-year-old woman and injuring two other pedestrians. According to Gothamist, the incident occurred just before 1 p.m. near 535 Neptune Avenue. The elderly man, who was behind the wheel of a Chrysler Town & Country, put the vehicle in reverse and mounted the curb, striking the woman who later was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Police have not filed any charges against the driver, who was taken to Maimonides Medical Center in stable condition as the investigation remains ongoing. The NYPD has withheld the driver’s identity while he remains hospitalized, pending notification of his family about the incident.
The two other victims, a 43-year-old woman and a 75-year-old woman, were taken to the same hospital and are reported to be in stable condition, according to officials. Details about their injuries have not yet been disclosed. Authorities have not yet determined the full extent of their injuries, sustained when the SUV suddenly reversed onto the sidewalk. Tire marks left at the scene remain part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.
As the investigation continues, sources familiar with the case have indicated that the elderly driver may have experienced a stroke, which is being examined as a potential contributing factor in the incident, this detail was provided by The Post. A witness described the immediate aftermath to Pix 11, claiming, "I saw the man back up and knock them down, and I started screaming." The same witness provided a detailed account of the condition of the injured individuals, saying, "They were all bloody. It was a mess."
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash, and updates on the conditions of those involved are expected as more information becomes available.
.jpg){kind=link}