Locals Raise Money, Mourn Pedestrians Killed In Bed-Stuy & Fort Greene

BED-STUY, NY — Locals pitched in to help the families of two Brooklyn pedestrians fatally struck in Bed-Stuy and Fort Greene.

By Monday, locals had donated over $31,000 to help the family of Yvonne Sandiford send the 79-year-old's body to Barbados after she was fatally struck at New York Avenue near Herkimer Street.

And on Thursday, 7-year-old Kamari Hughes' family held a funeral to remember the energetic child fatally struck by an NYPD tow truck on Myrtle Avenue near Portland Avenue.

"Kamari was an amazing child and was loved by many. He left an impression on any he came in contact with. He was full of life and energy. Real life spiderman," said Taqunda Hughes in a GoFundMe that had raised $22,000 by Monday.

For Sandiford's family, the money will be crucial to help achieve the woman's dream of being buried in Barbados.

"As a Native Barbadian, it was Vonnie's dream to be laid to eternal rest in her homeland of Barbados. We are raising money to fulfill her final wishes," said Sandiford's family on a GoFundMe.

Sandiford's loved ones remembered the matriarch as loving and generous, killed on Nov. 2 after two hit-and-run drivers hit the woman crossing at a marked crosswalk.

"Vonnie was a benevolent human being with a generous spirit," said her family in a GoFundMe. "Known for her infectious laugh, delicious cooking, and unwavering love for her family, we are grief-stricken by her sudden and unexpected loss."

A week before Sandiford's death, Brooklyn was rocked by the death of Hughes, who was crossing the street on a scooter when he was fatally struck.

NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agent Stephanie Sharp, 54, was arrested related to the crash and charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care, police said.

"I love my baby with everything I have. I would give anything to get him back,” Kamari’s mother, Taqunda Hughes, said at Thursday's funeral, according to Brooklyn Paper. "No matter what happened in this world, my baby knew his mommy loved him.”

Both deaths spurred renewed calls for safer streets in Brooklyn.

"The City of New York has the tools to stop traffic violence, especially for older New Yorkers, but lacks the political will to make our streets safe," said Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives.