7-Year-Old Boy Dead, Mother In Critical After Being Hit By Vehicle In Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- For the second time in just three days, a child has died after being stuck on Brooklyn street.
Thursday morning, a 7-year-old boy was hit by a car while walking with his mother to school.
They were hit by a car around 8:15 a.m. near Pennsylvania and Blake avenues in East New York.
Surveillance video shows the pedestrians had the right of the way when they were struck in the intersection. The video shows the moments leading up the Jeep SUV running over 7-year-old Payson Lott and his 39-year-old mother. The two had the green light and were in the crosswalk when they were struck.
They were rushed to Brookdale Hospital, where the boy was pronounced dead.
The incident left neighbors stunned.
"So it's very sad. Very heart-wrenching," said neighbor Kesha Hicks.
The mother and son live just a few blocks from the scene of the crash and were on their way to drop the boy off at tschool.
"It's just crazy, because he's a cool little dude," said neighbor Aaron Fedii, who said he saw Payson just this morning.
"I just wish the family strength. Because that's real sad," he said.
The intersection where the boy was killed is just steps from a high school, and is a busy crossing point for many kids before and after school.
Parents told CBS2's Nick Caloway there needs to be crossing guards there.
"I think that they could do a little better, maybe with some more signs, maybe even with a crossing guard or something," said Hicks.
"My whole thing is where's the crossing guards?" said East New York resident Isabel Santos.
By the time school let out Thursday afternoon, there were two crossing guards at the intersection. Parents told Caloway that's unusual.
Susan Pierrot, 48, of Brooklyn, was arrested and charged with driving with a suspended license, failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care.
This is the second time this week a child was hit and killed in East New York. Just two days ago, two miles away 10-year-old Patience Albert was on her way to school when she was hit by a school bus and killed. The driver in that case was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care.
Transportation Alternatives said Thursday's incident marks the sixth pedestrian death in the city this week, and the 22nd so far this year.
"No one should fear for their lives while crossing the street, no community should be burdened with such a level of death and destruction on its streets, and no elected official should stand in the way of known solutions that can bring an end to traffic violence. This is a public health crisis, and our leaders must treat it as such," said Danny Harris, executive director of Transportation Alternatives.
"This is devastating. This young boy was just seven years old. It's painful to imagine what his family is going through. Our hearts are with them today. A full investigation is underway," Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted. "The NYPD is committed to protecting our schools and making sure every student gets to class safely. We will be increasing efforts in the coming days to keep our streets safe. Our kids deserve nothing less."
"I am heartbroken that we've lost another student this morning, and I extend my deepest condolences to the family and school community. We'll have additional counselors available to students and staff during this difficult time," Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza tweeted.
"This tragedy happened 2 miles from where 10-yr-old Patience Heaven Albert was killed 2 days ago. We need to prioritize safe streets as a matter of life and death. My heartfelt condolences to this little boy's loved ones. We can't let this keep happening," wrote City Council Speaker Corey Johnson on Twitter.
