Moped rider charged after 90-year-old pedestrian dies in Brooklyn
Police said Steven Malcaus hit 90-year-old Zhuo Xie with a blue moped at Avenue U and East 14th Street, left the scene and was later charged; city records list one pedestrian killed.
What We Know
The city crash record says a 90-year-old male pedestrian was killed at East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn on July 8, 2025, at 9:38 a.m. Police told reporters the man was crossing at the intersection when a rider on a blue moped went south on East 14th Street and hit him. CBS, ABC7 and News 12 identified him as Zhuo Xie, with CBS using Zhuo Lin Xie; the Daily News used Zhou Xie. Reporters cited police saying he was in the crosswalk against the light, while the rider had a green signal. Police later arrested Steven Malcaus, 63, and, according to Brooklyn Eagle and News 12, charged him with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and license-related offenses.
A morning crossing ended in a fatal head injury
The city record places the crash at 9:38 a.m. on July 8, 2025, at East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn and records one pedestrian, a 90-year-old man, killed.
Police told ABC7 and the Daily News that the pedestrian was in the crosswalk against the light, while ABC7 and Brooklyn Eagle reported that the rider had a green traffic signal. CBS reported that surveillance video showed the rider remained at the scene for about three minutes before leaving westbound.
The corner sits on an Avenue U corridor with a recent crash toll
The fatal collision happened at East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn. News accounts placed the corner in Homecrest or near Sheepshead Bay.
CrashCountNYC's Crash Finder lists 867 crashes, 603 injuries, 43 serious injuries and 3 deaths along Avenue U in Brooklyn since 2022, making this corner part of a corridor with a substantial recent injury record.
The victim was identified with differing name spellings
CBS, ABC7 and News 12 identified the man as Zhuo Xie; CBS gave the fuller name Zhuo Lin Xie. The Daily News spelled his name Zhou Xie and reported that he lived about two blocks from the crash site.
CBS reported that Xie's grandson hoped authorities would find the person responsible and raised concerns about motorcycles in residential areas.
Reports described a blue moped
The city record lists a moped with one occupant; the rider was going south and straight ahead before impact. News accounts described the moped or scooter as blue.
The city record notes front-center impact and front-center damage.
Video and police accounts focused on signal timing and attention
Police told ABC7 and the Daily News that Xie was in the crosswalk against the light, and ABC7 and Brooklyn Eagle reported that the rider had a green signal.
ABC7 reported that surveillance video showed the rider looking left shortly before impact.
Police later arrested a 63-year-old rider
Brooklyn Eagle reported that police arrested Steven Malcaus, 63, a Dyker Heights resident, within the 68th Precinct. News 12 also reported the arrest.