Statement from Transportation Alternatives After Driver Hits and Kills Bike Rider in Williamsburg

Traffic violence has already killed 35 people less than 2 months into 2024.

Just a block away and a few hours earlier, a speeding driver hit a MTA bus, ejecting and killing a passenger in the car.

BROOKLYN, NY — This morning, a block away from IS 318, a driver struck and killed a bike rider on a Citi Bike at Lorimer Street and Broadway in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The night before, only a block away at Harrison Avenue and Lorimer Street, a speeding hit-and-run driver struck a B48 MTA bus. The collision ejected and killed one of the passengers in the car, 33-year-old Alex Caba-Guitierrez. The driver left the scene.

Lorimer and Broadway is a dangerous intersection, filled with slip lanes that encourage speeding and no infrastructure to keep pedestrians or cyclists safe. Broadway itself is also an extremely dangerous street. It’s a Vision Zero Priority Corridor, and there have been 20 serious injuries on the road since 2022, including eight serious bicycle injuries.

Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:

“We are heartbroken to learn that drivers killed two New Yorkers in Williamsburg within 24 hours – and horrified that children witnessed the impact of a fatal crash during their morning trip to school. We send our thoughts and condolences to their community and their loved ones.”

“We know which streets and intersections in our city are dangerous – it’s time to truly fix them before more New Yorkers are injured or killed on the mayor’s streets. This street has been a Vision Zero Priority corridor for over a decade, and let this be another tragic call for the City to fix it and keep cyclists safe.” 

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