Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Carnage

UPDATE: Drunk, Unlicensed Driver Killed Pedestrian in Downtown Brooklyn: Cops

File photo: Dave Colon

An unlicensed and drunk driver ran down and killed a woman steps from her home on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn on Sunday night, cops said.

According to police, Jasen Nhambiu, 49, was drunk when he drove his Hyundai Sonata westbound on Atlantic at around 7:45 p.m. then slammed into Alina Morales, 62, between Third Avenue and Nevins Street. Nhambiu remained on the scene while Morales was taken to Brooklyn Hospital Center in nearby Fort Greene, where she died.

Cops later charged the driver with four serious crimes: driving while intoxicated, refusal to take a breath test, driving without a license, aggravated unlicensed operator (an additional charge because of the alcohol). It is very rare for cops to charge drivers who remain on the scene unless they have committed a second crime, beyond the crash, such as drinking or driving with a suspended license. Indeed, before the charges against Nhambiu had been announced, the only detail police initially released was that Morales had been crossing the wide, dangerous, four-lane speedway "mid-block."

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Tisch Will Stay On — So Is That a Good Thing?

So the mayor-elect says he'll keep Jessica Tisch as his police commissioner. What do we think of that?

November 20, 2025

AGENDA 2026: Mamdani Must Reduce, Digitize Parking Placards

Mayor-elect Mamdani must face down the placard class to regain control of New York City streets.

November 20, 2025

Upstate Transit Agencies are Starving As State Slows Funding

Advocates are hoping for better luck next year as local transit authorities warn of service reductions, and the funding ask may have an ingenious solution.

November 20, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: ‘Kwame’ Edition

It's exciting that the mayor and the president will meet. Plus other news.

November 20, 2025

Lyft Hoses Citi Bike Riders Compared to Bike-Share in Other Cities: Report

The price of a yearly Citi Bike membership has grown by 77 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars since the bike-share program launched 2013, the Independent Budget Office said.

November 19, 2025

Most People Don’t Drive To Court Street: DOT

And more people bike than drive on the Brooklyn street!

November 19, 2025
See all posts