Anyone who’s been to New York during the summer knows about the large number of people walking from place to place, enjoying the beautiful weather. With this large amount of foot-traffic, there are tragically a number of pedestrian accidents that occur this time of year. One recent example involved one New York family, who is now mourning the loss of a 12-year-old girl.
The girl, along with her mother and sister, were walking along Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn when a minivan jumped the curb and sped into them. The van continued to knock down part of a fence before stopping with the front of the van above a fire hydrant. The 26-year-old driver then exited the vehicle and ran off, with one of the girls pinned under the rear end of the van.
A group of bystanders attempted to save the little girl by lifting the van off of her. The other girl and her mother were seriously injured, as well. Paramedics transported the three pedestrians to a local hospital, where the 12-year-old passed away.
Police were not chasing the man at the time of the accident, and the bystanders were more focused on the victims to chase after him. The driver is still on the loose, but investigators are doing everything they have to find him.
Pedestrian accidents are often caused by negligent drivers who are speeding, driving recklessly or are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In addition to criminal charges, a negligent driver could also face a wrongful death lawsuit from the family. Wrongful death damages can help families get back on their feet financially after a devastating loss.
Source: NBC New York, “Man Flees on Foot After Hit-and-Run That Killed Girl, Injured 2 Others,” Ida Siegal, Shedlon Dutes & Brynn Gingras, July 4, 2014
