Morgan Scott

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Jul 23, 2025, 7:17 PM

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Updated

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The Sunset Park community rallied for safety changes after the death of two men in a hit-and-run on Third Avenue.

Community members, organizers and elected officials rallied around the corridor, advocating for street safety improvements to be made immediately.

It's been less than two weeks since two men were killed in a hit-and-run as they crossed the street along Third Avenue.

Police say 23-year-old Juventino Anastacio Florentino was behind the wheel and sped through a red light without stopping.

"We will not tolerate one more death,” said Sen. Andrew Gounardes at the rally. “One more injury, one more crash in our community.”

Since 2018, 80 people have been killed or seriously injured on the two-mile stretch of Third Avenue, according to Vision Zero. That's about one life-altering crash every month for the past seven years.

"The next person could be your child,” said Jane Martin-Lavaud, of Families for Safer Streets. “It could be your parents, it could be your spouse, partner. So what are we waiting for?"

Jane Lavaud says it's more than just another statistic.

After losing her daughter in a car crash 12 years ago in Gravesend, she's continued to fight for change throughout Brooklyn.

"We're all remembering this family member of the past who should still be with us,” said Martin-Lavaud. “All of her friends finished their degrees, married, started families, you know, embarked on careers. They all got to move forward and her life ended."

She and other community leaders say street safety improvements were supposed to be made on the dangerous corridor two years ago.

However, they say delays from the mayor's office have created a standstill.

"I want to know for whom our mayor works,” said Martin-Lavaud. “Are we working for billionaires? Are we working for corporations or are we working for our residents? Every delay costs lives."