Advocates from Transportation Alternatives say they've noticed a tragic trend involving pedestrians being struck by large vehicles. 

 

Most recently, 77-year-old Erika Wajsman was crossing the street at Avenue P and East 19th Street in Midwood on Monday when she was struck and killed by a dump truck, according to police.

 

This summer in Bay Ridge, a 61-year-old woman was hit by a SUV and died and in Coney Island a 75-year-old woman died after being struck by a dump truck and a Jeep.

 

"Multiple people have been killed by dump trucks not only in the city, but Brooklyn especially," said Rose Uscianowski, of Staten Island & South Brooklyn Organize. "They have larger hoods that create sightline issues for the drivers...larger hoods tend to hit road users in more vulnerable areas of their bodies."

 

Transportation Alternatives analyzed city data and found 33 pedestrians were killed by trucks since 2021, with SUVs accounting for 34% of pedestrian deaths since 2022. Organizers says this could change if manufactures lowered the hoods and brought driver seats lower to the ground.

 

While city data shows there haven’t been any traffic deaths at Avenue P and East 19th Street, there were three people hurt in crashes around there just this past year.

 

The New York City Department of Transportation told News 12 in a statement, in part: 

 

"No loss of life on our streets is acceptable and NYCDOT is reviewing this location. Our thoughts are with the victim's family."