A tragic truck accident in New York City has claimed the life of a young woman in town for the weekend. 48-year old Elise Lachowyn was in New York for the North American International Toy fair when she was struck and killed by a dump truck while crossing the street. The accident occurred along 11th Avenue near West 37th Street at roughly 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday February 15th.
Mrs. Lachowyn and her husband were the cofounders of a marketing company based out of Boulder, Colorado and she was vice president of Tech 4 Kids, a Canadian toy manufacturer.
By the time emergency crews arrived at the scene of the accident, Mrs. Lachowyn had passed away. She was pronounced dead at the scene by EMTs. Responding NYPD officers immediately began investigating the driver of the truck. They later arrested 51-year old Carlos Torres on suspicion of failing to yield for a pedestrian.
Tragically, this latest truck accident in New York not only deprived Mrs. Lachowyn’s husband of a wife but their 6-year old daughter of a mother.
Police say that Mrs. Lachowyn was wearing a hooded sweatshirt at the time of her death and may not have seen the dump truck when she began crossing the street. However, under New York law, drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks when there is no signal light and certainly if the pedestrian is walking with the light.
Regardless of the criminal charges, the victim’s family can pursue monetary compensation from the owner and driver of the truck. The compensated would be for pain and suffering for the period of time Mrs. Lachowyn survived after the accident, unpaid medical and funeral expenses, and lost future financial support.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a careless commercial driver in the city, contact an expert New York City truck accident attorney today. You too could be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation at or 212-385-1122 to learn your rights.