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A six-year-old boy in Brooklyn was struck and killed by an SUV Friday afternoon as he and his mother waited to cross the street in East Flatbush. Shawna Spaulding was walking her son Clarente Turner home from PS 219 in Brooklyn when they were hit waiting in the median of Kings Highway. A collision between a Nissan Pathfinder and a Chrysler Pacifica sent the SUV flying into the median where it hit both mother and son. Clarente died at the scene. Spaulding remains in stable condition with various injuries.
Neither car was issued a ticket or suspected of criminality, but residents say they want the city to slow traffic on Kings Highway down at the busy intersection of 95th St. Both PS 219 where Turner had just begun first grade and IS 252 are a mere block from the scene of the crash. Neighbors say that they frequently see cars racing to beat a red light while packs of children attempt to cross the wide street. One witness said the Pathfinder Friday was trying to "jump the light."
For now the family and neighborhood can only mourn the loss of the young child. Clarente's cousin told the Daily News, "He found the simplest things to laugh about. We celebrated his birthday two weeks ago, and now we're planning a funeral."
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Why must people play "beat the red light"? This is terribly tragic.
Unfortunately this kind of incident happens throughout the country. The problem is people are always in a rush and they think beating the light saves them time.
A few days ago I saw someone beating the red light only for the next intersection to turn red.
Should be a requirement to have speed bumps and other traffic calming devices installed near any NYC schools. And it might be time to install cameras at intersections with lights.
Red light jumping is so common in the City these days that police and traffic enforcement don't even acknowledge it - thus giving this deadly driving practice tacit approval.
I would love to see the Mayor finally show some spine and speak out against the lax law enforcement of traffic rules that result in this kind of tragedy - the violent death of a 6-year-old. But the Mayor is probably out of town this weekend.
Agreed. There needs to be more effective enforcement of all traffic laws, not just trying to beat the light. One of my favorites is the driver who barely slows down and cuts pedestrians off to make a turn. Uh, Einstein, if you have the green light, chances are so does the next street over, which means you're hurrying to turn to a red light.
@Spiritof76--I totally agree with the annoyingness of the driver trying to race to make the turn when he/she will face a red (I came across that the other day).
They struck two people who were waiting to cross the street, killed one and seriously injured the other. Obviously at least one of them did something wrong!
you think their insurance will pay for the damage?
I would think they would do a more thorough investigation.
I had something like this happen to me once. waiting for a light at a corner, light changes and one car tries to beat it. Clips the other guys rear bumper, sends it flying towards me and took me off my legs. funny thing was I saw it all coming and just stood there.