Carnage

Cops Arrest Virginia Driver for Killing Brooklyn Pedestrian

Finally, some charges against a killer driver.

By Gersh Kuntzman

10:52 PM EDT on March 10, 2019

Cops Arrest Virginia Driver for Killing Brooklyn Pedestrian

Photo: Franz Golhen

Cops have arrested a Virginia who they say ran down and killed an 82-year-old pedestrian in Williamsburg on Saturday night.

Police say that Mark Smith, 57, of Glen Allen, hit Evaristo Mercado as the pedestrian crossed Maujer Street in the crosswalk and with the light at around 5:42 p.m. Smith had been traveling northbound on Bushwick Avenue and was attempting to complete a left turn in onto Maujer in his 2004 Ford van.

Mercado was taken to Woodhull Hospital, where he died. Smith was charged with failure to yield, failure to exercise due care, and marijuana possession. A police spokesman said the pot charge was a violation, indicating that Smith was allegedly in possession of only a small amount.

There were three reported crashes last year at that same corner, with two motorists injured. In the 90th Precinct last year, there were 3,589 reported crashes, injuring 151 cyclists and 157 pedestrians, plus 609 motorists. Four pedestrians and three drivers died.

That’s roughly 10 crashes per day.

Gersh Kuntzman

Tabloid legend Gersh Kuntzman has been with New York newspapers since 1989, including stints at the New York Daily News, the Post, the Brooklyn Paper and even a cup of coffee with the Times. He's also the writer and producer of "Murder at the Food Coop," which was a hit at the NYC Fringe Festival in 2016, and “SUV: The Musical” in 2007. He also writes the Cycle of Rage column, which is archived here.