An 80-year-old man was killed Friday afternoon in Brownsville after a Lexus SUV jumped the curb and plowed onto a sidewalk near East 92nd Street and Rutland Road, police said. The crash happened just before 1:30 p.m., and paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene. A second person was taken to Brookdale University Hospital with injuries that police did not immediately detail. Authorities said the driver, a 63-year-old woman, is under investigation as officers work to determine how the vehicle mounted the curb.
What police say
According to News 12 New York, the NYPD said the driver made a right-hand turn from East 92nd Street onto Rutland Road and then drove onto the sidewalk, striking the man. Police identified the vehicle as a Lexus RX 350 and said paramedics pronounced the 80-year-old dead at the scene. A second person was taken to Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, and the extent of their injuries has not been released.
Brownsville's safety concerns
The crash adds to a string of fatal and serious collisions in Brownsville this year, with a hit-and-run that killed a 4-year-old reported in March. City officials point to progress citywide, saying pedestrian fatalities are at historic lows thanks to Vision Zero initiatives, but residents and advocates say dangerous turning movements and wide lanes keep some neighborhoods at higher risk. The NYC Department of Transportation outlined the latest numbers and safety efforts in a July release from the NYC Department of Transportation and said pedestrian deaths are down more than 42% since the launch of Vision Zero in 2014, although local hotspots continue to account for a disproportionate share of severe crashes.
Investigation ongoing
The NYPD did not immediately say whether charges would be filed and offered few other details as detectives continued their on-scene work, according to News 12 New York. Investigators typically canvass nearby surveillance and traffic-camera footage in crashes of this type and interview witnesses as the probe continues. This story will be updated as the NYPD or prosecutors release more information.
