NYC Injury Update: Dump Truck Hit & Run in Brooklyn
Another dump truck accident has claimed the life of a woman in Brooklyn. As reported by the New York Daily News, this accident occurred in Bensonhurst, on the 86th street near Bay Parkway. The victim, 67-year-old Deborah Mutell, was crossing in the middle of the block when a private sanitation vehicle going east struck her. She was only two blocks from her apartment building.
Horrifyingly, the force generated by the accident was such that it split the victim’s body in two. She was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident after being dragged a short distance.
In a move that should not surprise any New Yorker, the driver of the sanitation vehicle did not stop. However, it is unclear whether the driver knew he had hit anyone or not.
Not the First Accident Involving Sanitation Vehicles
Anyone who follows the news is well-aware that sanitation vehicles pose a serious hazard on our roads. Only a week earlier, a DSNY driver killed a 10-year old boy in Queens in a collision. Sanitation vehicles also were involved in a dozen fatal accidents in 2019. Other accidents from 2019 include:
- A man was killed on the Gowanus Expressway in August 2019 when a tire flew off a sanitation vehicle and shattered his windshield. Thankfully, in this case, the driver of the sanitation vehicle stayed at the scene of the accident to assist.
- A sanitation truck was involved in a pileup accident in Queens in May 2019. The truck triggered the chain reaction when it crashed into a parked vehicle. Fortunately, no one was killed in the crash though minor injuries were reported.
- A sanitation truck going the wrong way in Brooklyn struck and killed a 37-year-old pedestrian in the Crown Heights section.
Dozens of people were injured or killed in collisions with sanitation trucks in 2019, and it looks like 2020 is off to another gruesome start.
Dangerous Road
The street where Ms. Mutell is a particularly dangerous one, according to statistics. According to city data cited by the Daily News, 27 people have been seriously injured on this strip between 2012 and 2016. Two other people were killed. There are many reasons why 86th Street is one of the most dangerous streets in Brooklyn, but heavy traffic is probably the leading one. Many residents have complained to the media that the city is not doing enough to increase safety.
Unfortunately, the city first prioritized safety on 86th Street five years ago, but there are no tangible signs that safety has improved, even though Mayor DeBlasio has made pedestrians safety a key focus.
Reach Out to Our Truck Accidents Lawyers in New York City to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a collision with a dump truck, contact Lipsig, Shapey, Manus & Moverman today. Our team can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Regardless of whether you are hit by a city truck or a private one, you deserve compensation for your injuries. For a complimentary consultation, please call us at 212-285-3300 or fill out our contact form.
