A 4-year-old child was killed while playing outside his home on a residential street in the Bronx on Tuesday.
Ebrahim Kebe was struck by the driver of a minivan on Topping Avenue in Mount Hope at approximately 6 p.m., according to reports. He was pronounced dead at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital.
Like clockwork, the Post weighed in with the requisite dose of victim-blaming:
Residents said that children on the street dart into traffic constantly, and that there had been several other near misses in recent weeks.
Translation: Rather than expect drivers to exercise caution on a block lined with homes where small children live, families should keep their kids away from the damn street.
Ebrahim Kebe is at least the third "darting child" to die in New York City traffic in 2012. Earlier this month, 3-year-old Kevin Rodriguez was run over by an ambulette driver in front of his parents in Coney Island. In April, Timothy Keith, age 5, was struck by a yellow cab driver in front of his parents in Cobble Hill.
Last summer, 6-year-old Zhaneya Butcher was killed as she ran toward an ice cream truck in Jamaica. The driver was charged with DWI and manslaughter but was ultimately sentenced to probation and a six-month license revocation.
Though the Post story says the motorist did not stop after striking Ebrahim until alerted by screaming witnesses, according to DNAinfo, "officers told Ebrahim's family the driver was not speeding."
"It's an accident waiting to happen," said Junior Nunez, who has lived on the block for 15 years and said he frequently sees kids playing in the street, especially in the summer.
While Topping Avenue is a quiet residential street, the block where the accident occurred is adjacent to the Cross Bronx Expressway, and neighbors said cars often race up the street during rush hour as they take a shortcut through the neighborhood.
"When the block seems empty people think they can speed through here," said Queenie, a mother of five who lives on the block.
Kids in the street in the summertime. What motorist could possibly be expected to be prepared for such a scenario. By 10:11 p.m., when DNAinfo last updated its story, NYPD had publicly exonerated the driver.
This fatal crash occurred in the 46th Precinct. To voice your concerns about neighborhood traffic safety directly to Deputy Inspector John Hart, the commanding officer, go to the next precinct community council meeting. The 46th Precinct council meetings happen at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at the precinct, 2120 Ryer Avenue. Call the precinct at 718-220-5234 for information.
The City Council district where Ebrahim Kebe was killed is represented by Fernando Cabrera. To encourage Cabrera to take action to improve street safety in his district and citywide, contact him at 212-788-7074 or fcabrera@council.nyc.gov.
