A 79-year-old man was critically injured by a motorist in Staten Island last night, on a day when three pedestrians were killed by New York City drivers.
The victim was crossing Hylan Boulevard at Bay Street when he was struck by the driver of a 2012 Acura, who was northbound on Hylan, according to NYPD and the Staten Island Advance. Contrary to tweets indicating that the victim died, as of this morning the NYPD public information office said he was transported to Staten Island University Hospital in critical condition. His name has not been released.
NYPD had no information on summonses or charges. Also unknown is whether speed was a factor in the crash, or who had the right of way.
A witness told the Advance she was nearly hit as well:
The accident happened just before 10 p.m. in Rosebank, according to a fellow pedestrian who said she'd been crossing also and came within a few feet of being struck herself.
"I'm trying not to think of that right now," she said, declining to give her name. "It was scary. I just want to go home."
The witness, from New Dorp, said the victim, not yet identified, was responsive when EMTs loaded him into their ambulance.
She described the driver as an "elderly woman" who was visibly "shaken up" by the accident.
Last night's crash happened hours after three New Yorkers were killed by motorists in Queens and Manhattan. The victims included Olga Rivera, who was struck in East Harlem on her 65th birthday. At least 30 pedestrians and cyclists age 65 or older have been killed by New York City drivers in 2013.
This injury 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 next 120th Precinct council meeting is scheduled for November 20 at Mt. Sinai Skills and Development Center, 382 Jersey Street. Call 718-876-8505 for information.
The City Council district where this crash occurred 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.
