Advocates demand action after crash kills children in Park Slope

<p>Pedestrian safety advocates in Park Slope continued to demand traffic improvements Friday, days after a car crash killed two young children and hospitalized their mothers -- one of whom is pregnant.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Mar 9, 2018, 10:38 PM

Updated 2,239 days ago

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Pedestrian safety advocates in Park Slope continued to demand traffic improvements Friday, days after a car crash killed two young children and hospitalized their mothers -- one of whom is pregnant.
It happened at the corner of Ninth Street and Fifth Avenue, as News 12 has reported, and the victims included the Tony Award-winning actress Ruthie Ann Miles and her friend, both of whom lost children.
"This intersection has been a danger for a long, long time," says community advocate Eric McClure, who has lived in Park Slope for more than 20 years. "There need to be consequences for dangers and reckless behavior behind the wheel."
Amy Cohen was another of the many protesters rallying near a memorial for the victims to demand safer streets Friday. She lost her own son to a dangerous driver a few years ago, she says.
Local lawmakers have introduced two bills in the state Legislature since the crash. One would make sure doctors alert authorities if someone has a condition that would impair their ability to drive. The other would enforce stricter penalties on reckless drivers.
"We need to make sure that we're taking dangerous motorists off the roads," said state Assemblyman Robert Carroll. "If either of these pieces of legislation were on the books, we could have had this driver off the street."
Miles, who is 34 and pregnant, tweeted that she is "healing" after the loss of her 4-year-old daughter. She also thanked supporters for their prayers and kindness. She also said she had left the intensive care unit and that her unborn child was not harmed.
Mayor Bill de Blasio says his office will immediately review the area where the crash happened for safety improvements. Among the considerations is a protected bike lane.


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