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

Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Pedestrian in Deadly Part of Brooklyn

Rockaway Parkway is a speedway with two lanes of car traffic. Photo: Google

A luxury car driver struck and killed a pedestrian on deadly Rockaway Parkway in Brooklyn on Wednesday night — then fled the scene, cops said.

According to police, the 54-year-old pedestrian, whose name was not immediately released, was crossing Rockaway Parkway at Lenox Road at around 11 p.m. when he was struck by the driver of a white BMW heading southbound on the speedway-like roadway.

The victim suffered severe body trauma and was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where he died. Meanwhile, the driver fled and has not been captured.

The investigation is ongoing.

A map of crashes in the 67th Precinct since June, 2020. Photo: Crashmapper
A map of crashes in the 67th Precinct since June, 2020. Photo: Crashmapper
A map of crashes in the 67th Precinct since June, 2020. Photo: Crashmapper

What needs no further investigation is that the very short portion of Rockaway Parkway between Kings Highway and Linden Boulevard is a deathtrap. Since June, 2020, there have been 67 reported crashes on just those four blocks, injuring two cyclists, nine pedestrians and 36 drivers, according to city data visualized by Crashmapper.

In the larger 67th Precinct, in which this fatal crash occurred, there have been 2,655 crashes over the same period — roughly seven crashes per day! — injuring 127 cyclists, 172 pedestrians and 1,042 motorists (that's almost four injuries per day!) and killing one cyclist, three pedestrians and three motorists.

Evidence suggests that the precinct does not take road safety seriously. The precinct's cops were semi-finalists in our March Parking Madness competition, which pits various precincts for how disrespectfully they treat their neighbors.

Citywide, the carnage continues to be the worst in the entire tenure of Mayor de Blasio. Between Jan. 1 and July 7, 128 people have been killed on New York City roads, according to the Department of Transportation:

Chart: DOT
Chart: DOT
Chart: DOT

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Albany Pols Seize the Helm(et)

Helmet laws remain controversial — they're the "common-sense" approach pushed by lawmakers who ignore that studies show they don't improve safety.

May 30, 2025

Tisch Reveals Real Reason for Her E-Bike Crackdown: E-Bike Licensing

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch doubles down on her cycling criminalization campaign, saying e-bike licensing is the only other option.

May 30, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: A ‘Critical’ Moment Edition

Cyclists will protest against the NYPD's bike crackdown with a Critical Mass ride to City Hall on Friday. Plus more news.

May 30, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Astoria’s Big Beautiful 31st Avenue Bike Boulevard

Streetsblog paid a visit to New York City's widest on-street protected bike lane ever, which is up and running in Astoria.

May 30, 2025

Data Dump: E-Bike Crashes Were Down Before NYPD Crackdown, Contradicting Tisch’s Rationale

In the first four months of this year, e-bike crashes and injuries were down by double-digit percentages. So, um, why is the NYPD cracking down?

May 29, 2025
See all posts