Sanitation Driver Strikes Rider in Fatal Brooklyn Crash.
A Sanitation driver turned right and struck a 55-year-old scooter rider at Rockaway and Ditmas avenues in Brooklyn, Streetsblog reported; the city recorded the fatal crash at 7:52 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2022.
Location reported in Open Data.
What We Know
A Sanitation driver turned right from Ditmas Avenue onto Rockaway Avenue and struck a 55-year-old rider, Streetsblog reported. amNewYork said the rider was traveling east and tried to pass along the truck's passenger side; Streetsblog said police would not specify the rider's intended direction. The city record classifies the rider's vehicle as a motorscooter, while news reports use different scooter and moped descriptions. Both reports say the rider was taken to Brookdale Hospital and died there. The driver remained at the scene, and Streetsblog reported that he was not initially charged.
Reports differ on the rider's movement.
Streetsblog reported that the Sanitation driver was traveling east on Ditmas Avenue, turned right and struck the rider. amNewYork reported that the rider was also traveling east and tried to get around the truck on its passenger side during the turn. Streetsblog said police declined to specify the rider's intended direction.
The city recorded one motorist killed in the collision at 7:52 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2022.
The rider was 55 years old.
Reports described the rider as a 55-year-old man. amNewYork said police withheld his identity pending family notification. Both outlets reported that he was taken to Brookdale Hospital and died there.
Reports use different names for the rider's vehicle.
The city record lists a 2018 Mack garbage/refuse vehicle and a 2021 Jiajue motorscooter. amNewYork called the rider's vehicle an electric scooter; Streetsblog described it as a motorized scooter or moped and reported that an NYPD spokesman declined to say which.
A sharp turn at an irregular intersection.
The collision occurred at Rockaway Avenue and Ditmas Avenue in Brooklyn, an off-center T intersection in an industrial area, Streetsblog reported. The article said a sign barred trucks over 12 feet 10 inches from making that right turn, while a Sanitation spokesman said garbage trucks stood 11 feet 6 inches. Streetsblog cited city statistics for 31 reported crashes at the intersection in the prior three years, compared with 16 at Ditmas Avenue and Rockaway Parkway two blocks away.
The driver stayed at the scene.
amNewYork reported that the driver was uninjured and remained at the scene. Streetsblog reported that he was not initially charged. Sanitation spokesman Joshua Goodman offered the victim's family the agency's "sincerest condolences" and said the department was conducting a full investigation.