DYKER HEIGHTS — After the death of yet another pedestrian — this time at the hands of a pickup truck driver on Tuesday — it begs the question as to what recourse can be taken looking forward to prevent future fatalities.
Xiaohong Chen, 52, a beloved mother and wife in the Dyker Heights community, left her family’s home at approximately 8 p.m. on Jan. 16 to pick up groceries. She was struck by a Dodge Ram pickup that which was making a left turn onto Bay Ridge Avenue from 13th Avenue. Chen was crossing Bay Ridge Avenue — just a few blocks from her home.
EMS transported Chen to Maimonides Medical Center in critical condition, but she could not be saved. The 72-year-old pickup truck driver remained on scene and was not arrested.
Chen is the fourth pedestrian to be killed in a crash in New York City so far in 2024, according to data compiled by NYC Crash Mapper, which tracks traffic injuries and fatalities.
Pedestrian deaths often occur because the driver or the pedestrian simply cannot see what is coming around the corner.
In November, Mayor Eric Adams pledged to “daylight” 1,000 intersections every year, soon after a 7-year-old boy was killed by a turning NYPD tow truck driver at a non-daylit intersection.
The concept of “daylighting” is to make certain that there is no parking near an intersection, so that pedestrians and drivers can see each other better as they approach said intersection.
State Sen. Iwen Chu agreed that daylighting could certainly be a way to prevent future tragedies, but pointed out that it is no silver bullet.
“There is no one solution that fits every corner of the city,” Chu told the Brooklyn Eagle. “Brooklyn is a very unique place, and we are –…
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