A teenager was critically injured Tuesday when a motorist struck her in a Sunset Park crosswalk.
Yasmelin Iglesias, 16, was crossing the street with her mother at 48th Street and Sixth Avenue at around 9 a.m. when she was hit by the driver of a commercial van, who according to the Daily News was traveling south on Sixth.
“She was trying to open her eyes when her mom was talking to her. Her mom was hysterical,” [witness] Maria said.
“The mother was telling her, ‘Don't go! Stay with me! You can't die,’” Maria said. “‘You have a purpose in life, in this world! You can't die!’"
The driver, identified only as a 29-year-old man, was not charged. He was cleared by police to drive the van from the crash site himself, according to News 12.
Locals told News 12 reckless driving is a problem in the area. "We need a speed bump so everybody can slow down," said one man, identified as Andre. "A lot of people get hit over here."
Iglesias was transported to Lutheran Medical Center with severe head trauma, the Daily News reported.
"I hope she has the strength to survive these surgeries," said Altagracia Cordero, Iglesias's grandmother, to the Daily News. "She's young but doesn't eat too much. She's very skinny."
"She's very lovable. She's always here checking on us."
The crash occurred in the 72nd Precinct, where as of October local officers had issued 179 speeding tickets in all of 2013, and 123 citations for failure to yield to a pedestrian. Kiko Shao, 5, was killed by a motorist in the 72nd Precinct in September.
To voice your concerns about neighborhood traffic safety directly to Captain James Grant, the commanding officer, go to the next precinct community council meeting. The 72nd Precinct council meetings happen at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the precinct, 830 Fourth Avenue. Call 718-965-6326 for information.
