Crash That Hurt Dad And Kids Outside Brooklyn School Prompts Safety Demands

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — After a father and his two kids were mowed down by a car as they walked to a Prospect Heights school, other parents are meeting to demand safety measures.

The incident, which sent the three to the hospital, was the tipping point for parents concerned about traffic outside of P.S. 9 in Prospect Heights.

"An entire family got hit by a car in front of the school at drop-off," Catherine D'Amato, whose daughter attends the school, told Patch. "It could happen to you. And there’s no reason for this. This never should have happened in front of the school."

On Oct. 3 — International Walk To School Day — the 47-year-old dad was walking to the school with his 6-year-old daughter and pushing his 2-year-old son in a stroller on St. Marks Avenue between Underhill and Vanderbilt avenues, according to police.

The family tried to cross the street, where heavy construction of a new condo building has blocked part of the sidewalk, just as a driver in a Honda SUV turned onto St. Marks from Vanderbilt.

The driver, a 58-year-old woman, hit all three family members, police said. The dad injured his knee, while the 2-year-old suffered minor bleeding on his head and the 6-year-old had bleeding on her face, according to police. They were all taken to Methodist Hospital in stable condition, police said.

The driver refused medical attention, according to police.

D'Amato, who didn't witness the crash, said the morning sun makes it difficult to see down St. Marks, and the driver told police that glare obstructed her vision.

"When the cars are turning, they’re blinded, especially the cars making a right onto Vanderbilt onto St. Marks," D'Amato said. That, combined with parents double parking while dropping kids off, a lack of crossing guards in the area, people driving through the area unaware they are in a school zone and a "crush" of foot traffic during morning drop-off make for bad conditions in the area, she said.

"You get some really pissed off people," D'Amato said.

She said some kids were held out of school the next day, traumatized by the sight of a stroller and blood in the street near their school.

"My kid getting hit by a car is the number one thing my husband fears," D'Amato said.

P.S. 9 will host the "Safety Town Hall Meeting" to address parents' concerns on Oct. 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

City Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo, who represents the neighborhood, said she was working with Transportation Alternatives to draft legislation to calm traffic around city schools.

Image via Google Streetview

(h/t DNAinfo)