On Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020, at about 11:55 a.m., 68-year-old Judith Wieder was tragically killed by a cement mixing truck while crossing the street in the Borough Park section of Brooklyn. This, unfortunately, was the second reported pedestrian death to occur on this day. Police continue to investigate the incident.
Wieder was attempting to cross New Utrecht Ave. near 49th St. when the accident occurred. Disturbing video footage taken by a dashboard camera shows the accident. Wieder begins to cross New Utrecht Ave. while the cement truck is stopped at a red traffic light. As she slowly walks in front of the truck, the signal changes and the driver begins to move forward. Still in front of the truck, Wieder was ultimately crushed beneath the truck’s left tires.
The driver remained at the scene as police arrived. The cement truck is owned by Ferrara Bros., a division of U.S. Concrete. The company has not commented on the accident.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Ms. Wieder during this difficult time. An employee at a local butcher shop where she was a regular shared with reporters, “She was a sweet lady. Always the good word.”
Members of the community provided their thoughts on the safety of their local streets. Resident Rene Marquez stated, “Cars smash into each other here all the time.”
Wieder’s accident marks the second pedestrian fatality to occur on Tuesday, January 7th. Earlier that morning, a 10-year-old boy was killed, and his mother was severely injured when a sanitation truck struck the two in a Queens crosswalk. Additionally, a man was killed by a bus in a Manhattan accident later this same day. These incidents are sobering reminders that our city’s streets need improvement.
These three unfortunate deaths bring the total pedestrian fatality count to 5 so far in the new year after the city saw at least 122 pedestrian deaths in 2019, according to The New York Times. Despite city government efforts to combat pedestrian accidents through Mayor de Blasio’s Vision Zero Action Plan, the rate of accidents is not decreasing.
Those who have been seriously injured in an accident due to the negligence of another party have a right to legal compensation for their losses. If you or someone you know has been injured in an auto accident, it may be in your best interest to contact a pedestrian accident lawyer to fight for justice on your behalf.
The Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy understand the long-lasting impact an accident can have on a victim’s life. We have a proven track record of results for pedestrians who have been severely injured in an accident, including:
- $32,756,156 verdict for a Vietnam veteran that suffered severe injuries after being struck by a drug-impaired driver while attempting to help victims of a separate car accident
- $12,000,000 settlement ($71,743,000 anticipated payout) for a child seriously injured when a car jumped the sidewalk and hit him in Brooklyn
- $9,950,000 settlement for a social worker who sustained an above-the-knee leg amputation after she was hit from behind by a van in a parking lot in Buffalo, New York
- $8,800,000 settlement for a pedestrian who suffered a brain injury after she was struck by a van that jumped the sidewalk while walking to pick her grandchildren up from school
For a free legal consultation with an attorney experienced in pedestrian accidents, call Block O’Toole & Murphy at 212-736-5300 or fill out our online contact form.