A recent fatal pedestrian accident in Brooklyn highlights the danger of what local residents call a “problem intersection” in Greenpoint. A 32-year old woman was struck by a BMW as she was crossing the street at the intersection of McGuinness Boulevard and Nassau Ave. just before the New Year. Nicole Detweiller, a Brooklyn resident, was then thrown into the path of an oncoming box truck and killed. The truck, travelling in the next lane over, was operated by a driver who shouldn’t have even been on the roads.
When rescue workers arrived, the Ms. Detweiler was already deceased and could not be revived. Police investigated the incident and question both drivers. The driver of the box truck was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Roberto Amador had been arrested just six days earlier for operating a vehicle without a license. Further investigation revealed that his license had been suspended for failure to pay fines accrued as he racked up at least 6 points on his license for various infractions.
A similar truck accident in New York claimed the life of an 8-year old boy one month earlier. In that accident too, the driver was operating without a license.
An NBC news affiliate investigation revealed that this particular intersection has a nasty past, filled with fatal and non-fatal traffic accidents. Indeed, one resident said that the “intersection is just so prone to people going really fast …”
Official statistics from the NYPD show that pedestrian accidents in New York City claimed the lives of 168 people last year alone. On average, 14 people are killed every month-that’s nearly one every two days.
The drivers of the at fault vehicles can be held legally and financially responsible for the pedestrian death. Surviving family members can sue for lost income that the decedent would have contributed to the household, unpaid medical and hospital bills, funeral expenses and pain and suffering for the period the decedent survived after the accident.
If you or a loved one has been involved in any kind of motor vehicle accident, call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel for a free consultation to learn your rights at or 212-385-1122.