13-year-old and 66-year-old hit by vehicles mark rise in pedestrian deaths in New York

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — The deaths of a 13-year-old and a 66-year-old are the latest amid an alarming rise in the number of pedestrians trapped and killed in New York City this year.

Niyell McCrorey, 13, was hit by a car at the intersection of Manhattan Avenue and Cathedral Parkway on Oct. 24.

She died from her injuries after a week in the pediatric ICU.

“My daughter Niyell was a brilliant child. She didn’t bother anyone. She was a sweetheart,” said her father, Darnell Sealy-McCrorey.

Friends and family members lit candles and left condolences at the scene Monday evening.

“I miss her voice, I miss her presence, her touch, her smell. I miss everything about my granddaughter,” said Alithia Mackins-Wilson.

Another accident claimed the life of someone in Harlem on Sunday evening.

Officials say a driver of a Toyota RAV4 then fled the scene hitting and killing a 66-year-old man which walked along Fifth Avenue past 135th Street after 9 p.m

The victim was rushed to nearby Harlem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The driver of the vehicle fled unscathed.

Saturday evening, a bicyclist was killed by a Toyota minivan that sped away from a police checkpoint and struck the victim at W. 155th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue.

These types of scenes are on the rise.

According to the NYPD’s own statistics, 7,027 pedestrians have been struck by vehicles so far this year.

That’s an increase of 3.2% compared to the 6,811 accidents this time last year.

The McCrorey’s pray their pain will encourage drivers to slow down.

‘Take your speed into account. When you’re driving. My daughter was brain dead for seven days. She fought and lost her life due to a traumatic injury.” said Sealy-McCrorey.

Niyell agrees with the grim statistic.

So far this year, more than 200 pedestrians have died from their injuries.

According to Transportation Alternatives, “New York is failing its citizens.”

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