Margaret King, 81, Killed by Staten Island Driver Making a Left Turn

An 81-year-old woman was fatally struck by a driver while crossing a Staten Island street last week.

Margaret King was in a crosswalk at the intersection of Forest and Livermore Avenues in Port Richmond Center at around noon on Wednesday, October 3, when the driver of a Nissan crashed into her while attempting a left turn, according to the Advance. She died the next day.

NYPD told the Advance that the driver, whose name was not released, was cited for failure to yield. King's daughter Peggy Saladis said she was told that the driver tested negative for alcohol and "didn't appear to have been using his phone." Police said the motorist who killed King "may have been distracted by another vehicle making a turn," according to Saladis.

"She was crossing with the light, in the crosswalk, and a person was making a left turn out of Boston Market, and he hit her and ran her over," said Saladis. "They said it was just a pure accident. I just don't get it because that intersection is so wide open, clear. It was a clear day at 12 noon. And my mom was wearing a pink and cornflower blue jacket. It just doesn't make any sense to us."

"I just want to understand what happened."

New York City pedestrians and cyclists are routinely killed by inattentive drivers in a hurry to make a turn. While DOT continues to install pedestrian countdown clocks, which do nothing to prevent such crashes, leading pedestrian intervals and split-phase signals are in short supply. Exclusive crossing time is especially beneficial to the elderly, the physically disabled and others who take longer to cross the street.

This fatal crash occurred in the 120th Precinct. To voice your concerns about neighborhood traffic safety directly to Deputy Inspector John Sprague, the commanding officer, go to the next precinct community council meeting. The 120th Precinct council meetings happen at 7 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month at the precinct, 78 Richmond Terrace. Call the precinct at 718-876-8505 for information.

The City Council district where Margaret King was killed is represented by Deborah Rose. To encourage Rose to take action to improve street safety in her district and citywide, contact her at 212-788-6972 or DROSE@Council.nyc.gov.