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

Two Pedestrians are Struck, One Killed, in Horrific Crashes in Brooklyn and Queens

File photo: Dave Colon

Two pedestrians were struck, and one was killed, in separate crashes on Thursday — and in both cases, the drivers were charged.

The first crash, at around 1:40 p.m., in Brooklyn, was a horrifying cascade of carnage. According to police, Danzel Mackins, 29, was driving his 2005 Ford Expedition eastbound on Gates Avenue near Marcus Garvey Boulevard, where he struck a 2007 Chevrolet Impala being driven by a 69-year-old man, who had been heading southbound on Marcus Garvey.

The Impala then slammed into two parked cars, while Mackins's SUV continued further on Gates, jumped the curb, and struck a 77-year-old pedestrian. She was taken to Kings County Hospital, where she is in serious condition [Update: An earlier report mistakenly said she had died]. Mackins was arrested by federal authorities — yes, the feds — for unspecified "narcotics and firearms offenses," said Southern District spokesman Nicholas Biase. Mackins, he added was "detained in Manhattan federal court [on Friday] afternoon. No further details are available at this time."

The NYPD did not respond to a question about whether it would charge Mackins with anything related to the crash, such as reckless driving or speeding.

The second crash was at around 7:45 p.m. According to police, Joseph Cappella, 46, drove his 2007 Cadillac Escalade into a 57-year-old pedestrian near the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue and Rentar Plaza in the terrible, dangerous stretch in Middle Village, Queens.

Police declined to give more details about the crash, but said Cappella was driving without a license. The name of the victim has not been released.

The area of this crash is well known for danger, even though half of the stretch of Metropolitan Avenue between Fresh Pond Road and 69th Street fronts cemeteries. Nonetheless, last year, there were 34 reported crashes on just those seven blocks, injuring three cyclists, one pedestrian and 10 motorists.

There was also this near-miss in Marine Park, Brooklyn, on Friday morning, just a few blocks from where a pedestrian was reported yesterday by NYPD to have died in a December crash.

https://twitter.com/NY_ACTIONS/status/1482057835332747270

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

‘Preventable’: Hit-and-Run Driver Kills Two on Third. Ave Corridor Eric Adams Refuses to Make Safer

A motorist struck and killed two men on a strip where Mayor Adams recently shelved a safety redesign amid a backlash from local business interests.

July 11, 2025

Why No BRT For NYC? Two New Reports Tackle Why Your Bus Service Sucks

Years of bus priority projects barely made a dent in speeds because Big Apple leaders won't install real bus rapid transit, two recent reports argue.

July 11, 2025

Citi Bike Riders Are Pissed About Eric Adams’s 15 MPH Speed Limit

Citi Bike's new 15 mph max speed limit is a bad deal for riders and a potential threat to safety, riders said.

July 11, 2025

Friday Video: Cyclists, Check Out Your Next City

Streetfilms' Clarence Eckerson visited London earlier this summer to check in on the Big Smoke's cycling revolution.

July 11, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Just the News Edition

We've got one more workday before we can hit the beach. Plus the news.

July 11, 2025

Council To Close Instacart Loophole, Pass Delivery Industry Regulation Bills

The City Council will vote on Monday to close the "Instacart loophole" and force all app companies to pay workers a minimum wage.

July 10, 2025
See all posts