City Employee Brain Dead After Brooklyn Hit-And-Run

Alma Guererro (top right), Erinn Phelan (bottom right)

A 22-year-old Bloomberg administration employee is brain dead after yesterday morning's hit-and-run on Flatbush Avenue and Prospect Place in Brooklyn, while her 23-year-old friend was left with a broken collarbone. The police are looking for the driver of a green 1993 Acura Legend that was abandoned blocks away from the scene.

According to the Daily News, Erinn Phelan, a coordinator in the mayor's city volunteerism effort, had shoved Alma Guererro out of the car's path. Guererro's father said, "[Alma] was going to be hit, but her friend pushed her out of the way. Her friend took the worst of it. Her friend pushed her in order to save her." A taxi driver who witnessed the incident and called the police with the car's license number said, "I heard a big boom. Then she took off. She started driving faster and [passed] me. It was a young woman driving. I followed the car."

The Post reports, "A source [said] that the women were in the middle of the crosswalk on Flatbush Avenue when they were hit, but it was not clear whether they had the light." Additionally, the Acura is registered to 31- (or 32-) year-old Bronx resident Cindy Jasmin, whose mother told the Post, "I don't know about any accident. She does not live here. She does not own a green Acura."

Phelan's family is reportedly deciding whether to keep her on life support. Mayor Bloomberg said, "When I spoke to Erinn's parents earlier today, I told them that as a father I can't begin to imagine what they are going through, but all of our prayers are with their dedicated and idealistic young daughter who's helping New York City answer President Obama's historic call to service."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 22, 2010 8:27 AM

Comments [rss]

MeganAnne79

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/07/19/2008-07-19_11yearold_boy_killed_by_speeding_hitrun_.html

What is most important about this is not the race of the person but what is going to be done on Flatbush to prevent these murders from occurring again?

The boy in the article above was 11.

http://gothamist.com/2009/11/04/charges_pending_against_driver_in_b.php

The woman in the article above was killed one block down on Flatbush ONE MONTH AGO!

birdword

this story is sad, but i'll tell you what's not sad is that hot chick in the american apparel ad right next to it.

Teach1122

This is to inform the public that Erinn Phelan is not brain dead as has been erroneously reported. She is holding her own and we pray for her speedy recovery.

Erinn is a daughter, sister, cousin, niece, and granddaughter and negative or inaccurate comments about this tragedy are hurtful to her family. Please continue to send positive thoughts and prayers to Erinn and her family.

newport27

"but all of our prayers are with their dedicated and idealistic young daughter who's helping New York City answer President Obama's historic call to service."

What a classy man. Take this opportunity to use the young woman's death to advance your political interests in having the terror trials done in NYC overcharging $200 million for "security", most of which will go into your pockets directly or indirectly through your security cronies. In other words, a young woman working for your company dies, and the first thing on your mind is how to use this opportunity to further justify fattening up your pockets.

Daveon8th

Wrong. Bloomberg is referring to the fact that the victim was working for NYC Service, which has been setup to promote volunteerism in the City. President Obama has singled out NYC and this program as one of the cities that is making it easier for Americans to find volunteer opportunities.

I'm amazed at the stupidity of your post.

JenChungsBaby

No comments about brain dead city employees?

one week only

Some asshole already made the 'joke' but he appears to have removed his comment.

ASSTACKLER

People in this town drive like maniacs by default. It's pretty scary at times. Now with everyone using "smart"phones and walking around like texting zombies when they cross the street I imagine we will see a lot more pedestrian fatalities.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

bloomberg, prayers isnt what we need but accountability. Cars not gun seems to be the prime weapon of choice and your NYPD doesn't arrest them either.

drewo

If the dead person was not affiliated with the Mayor's office, you have to wonder if he would have made any comment at all about this tragedy.

Railing against guns makes good headlines for the Mayor, and rarely is there any opposition. But the car is the kind of "weapon" a lot of New Yorkers (such as the Mayor) use every day. Getting a grip on Car Carnage is a different, and more difficult proposition. And when issues are difficult – well, it’s easier to ask for prayers, as if death-by-automobile is some kind of act of nature.

one week only

You must be shocked that these young women had jobs. Are you setting up a joke about how if your name is 'potsmoker' you must be a fucking unemployed braindead loser? You really should consider posting fewer comments on this site, it's just such a wasted effort.

Oh, and I don't have anything against pot smoking, but what a stupid name.

virgilstarkwell

fuck you.

NannyState

Another hit-and-run, another Acura.

Troy

This story once again displays the importence of white women in this society, bodies all around the city this weekend and the non-native blond chick is the lead on the major stations...typical.

That office she worked in made sure Bloomy had people show up to press events and photo ops, a tax-payer funded benefit with the office of the mayor....just to hear his voice and seeing his face with all the common people, without having to pay for it priceless...

People get hit crossing major avenues tend not to be born or raised here, however tragic her situation is, crossing flatbush against the light or even with it take a awareness that is not easily found...

I feel for her family, but I feel more for the families without access to wealth, the 12 or so souls lost this weekend, each one as tragic if not more then the bad writing of this blog, and the managing producers of the local media, when have they ever practiced journaiam to the interests of the american public....

Jen Chung

I posted the incident yesterday morning, before there was any information about the women's races, employment, etc. It's another unfortunate hit-and-run incident - if you look at others we've posted about, the victims are a diverse group. http://gothamist.com/tags/hitandrun

MeganAnne79

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/07/19/2008-07-19_11yearold_boy_killed_by_speeding_hitrun_.html

What is most important about this is not the race of the person but what is going to be done on Flatbush to prevent these murders from occurring again?

The boy in the article above was 11.

http://gothamist.com/2009/11/04/charges_pending_against_driver_in_b.php

The woman in the article above was killed one block down on Flatbush ONE MONTH AGO!

lucy van pelt

yeah i think i would rather be concerned about a 22yr old Brown University grad who moved to and just got a new job in NYC (black or white) rather than a 32yr old Bronx resident that was too irresponsible or didn't even have the decency to stop when she mowed down someone in her car.

wobbleSmith

hit and runs also tend to make the news because they perpetrator is still at large. will you have an equally intriguiging comment based on her race, once it is revealed?

tgg001

Hello Racist!

Drop by a journalism class some time or marketing for that matter. It just depends on what's interesting. The 500th crack head that dies gets boring. People won't read the same story over and over eventually. For a while they will but not for ever. Its about sales. You're right, there are bodies all over the city. They can't cover every story. They find the ones with the most new twists. Its why it called "NEWS" and not "OLDS".

gardengrasscrap

About two years ago I was hit by a car crossing the street near Washington and Bergen in Washington. It was raining, I had the right of way, the car came zooming around the corner. I was tossed onto the hood.

A long story long, the woman who hit me was forced to stop and she never said sorry. Not once. She refused to offer her information to me. I should have called the cops but I did not want to deal. Before I knew it she drove off with me standing in the rain.

I feel so bad for these two girls. I hope they find this person. I hope she acknowledges what she has done to these two people and their families. I cannot help but think its the same person who hit me, hit them. I know its most likely not the case but for someone to drive off makes me sick and cannot wrap my head around it.