Family Seeks Answers In Brooklyn Artist's Hit-And-Run Death
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The family of a bicyclist fatally struck by a truck in a hit-and-run in Brooklyn last week wants justice.
A deeply dissatisfied and dismayed Erika Lefevre is demanding someone be held accountable for her son's death.
Artist Mathieu Lefevre, 30, was struck and killed by a flatbed truck last Wednesday while riding his bike at Meserole Street and Morgan Avenue in Williamsburg.
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"My family wants to know what were the circumstances, what happened there? I have been to the scene of the accident twice now," Lefevre said. "We need to know, it is very important that we know the circumstances of my son's death."
The truck driver reportedly left the scene of the accident later claiming he didn't know he struck Mathieu. Police determined no criminality was involved and charges will not be filed.
"If I am driving a vehicle and there's a cyclist, if I hit him – whether I am aware of it or not – it still is my fault," Lefevre said.
Lefevre claims the NYPD has kept her in the dark regarding the investigation and tells Gothamist that she has learned most of the information through the media. She said she read in a newspaper that police wouldn't be pressing charges.
Paul Steely White of Transportation Alternatives said sadly, Lefevre's story is common.
"This is an epidemic on our streets, and the NYPD is ignoring it. Ray Kelly is ignoring it. Mayor Bloomberg is ignoring it," White said. "The New York Police Department has consistently failed to file charges against drivers for their lethal behavior."
He is demanding Bloomberg and Kelly take action, saying that they are "failing to hold accountable drivers who are killing and injuring New Yorkers with impunity."
According to Transportation Alternatives, drivers have killed four bicyclists in Williamsburg since August.
