- An early morning collision in Brooklyn Heights resulted in the tragic death of an 18-year-old woman after a speeding Mercedes driver ran a red light and collided with a Honda.
- The Mercedes driver attempted to escape the scene on foot, leaving the car ablaze and both vehicles destroyed, but was eventually apprehended by authorities with charges pending.
- The accident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by New York City officials to reduce traffic fatalities, despite the implementation of the “Vision Zero” road safety plan in 2014.
An 18-year-old woman tragically lost her life early Friday morning as the result of a dramatic collision in Brooklyn Heights, New York City. The incident occurred when the driver of a speeding black Mercedes Benz luxury car ran a red light and crashed into a 2019 Honda Accord. The driver then attempted to flee the scene on foot, according to the NYPD.
The accident took place at approximately 3:30 a.m. at the intersection of Atlantic Ave. and Court St. The young woman who died had been riding in the passenger seat of the Honda, which was also carrying another woman and a man. All three were rushed to New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where the teenager was pronounced dead. The 32-year-old woman driving the Honda and the 29-year-old man in the back passenger seat are both expected to survive.
Witness Murat Sonkya told the Daily News that the impact of the crash caused the Honda to spin out of control and collide with the corner outside of a Trader Joe’s supermarket. “After about a minute, the (Mercedes) caught fire,” Sonkya recounted.
The accident left both vehicles completely totaled. The 25-year-old man driving the Mercedes Benz managed to escape from the burning vehicle and attempted to flee the scene on foot. He was soon apprehended by authorities. A woman had also been riding in the Mercedes as a passenger.
Related:
- A 17-year-old hospitalized after being shot at Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center in Crown Heights
- Early morning crash on Major Deegan Expressway claims the life of 22-year-old Justin Francisco.
- The Cohansey River in Cumberland County becomes the site of a fatal dump truck crash on County Route 553
Charges against the driver who fled the scene are currently pending. However, it is important to note that all charges are mere accusations, and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The increase in traffic accidents is a major challenge for Mayor Eric Adams, despite the implementation of the “Vision Zero” road safety plan in 2014 by then-new Mayor Bill de Blasio. The initiative aimed to make the city safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists with a goal of zero fatalities by 2024. However, cyclist fatalities have surged 260% in the first six months of 2023 and 325% since the introduction of the Vision Zero plan in 2014. In many of these cases, the drivers involved flee the scene.
New York authorities continue to emphasize their zero-tolerance policy for drivers caught speeding or operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.