Statement from Transportation Alternatives and Families for Safe Streets After Death of Heroic Nanny Arcellie Muschamp, Killed by Driver of a Pick-Up Truck in Park Slope
NEW YORK — Late on Friday night, authorities confirmed the death of 52-year-old Arcellie Muschamp, who passed away from severe injuries sustained after a driver of a pick-up truck – who according to witness accounts was speeding – struck her as she crossed the intersection of Union Street and Fifth Avenue in Park Slope on December 20. Muschamp, a nanny for a one-year-old child, heroically pushed the child’s stroller to safety right before being hit by the pickup truck.
Muschamp’s death was another tragic and preventable death in 2021, the deadliest year on New York City streets since Vision Zero began, with at least 266 traffic fatalities. 2021 was particularly deadly in Brooklyn, with at least 83 deaths, a 56 percent increase over the safest year, 2016, and a 33 percent increase over 2020.
Statement from Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Danny Harris:
“Our hearts are heavy as traffic violence kills yet another New Yorker, especially one who acted so selflessly to save another life. Arcellie Muschamp is a hero, but it should not take heroes for children to cross the street without being killed by a car.”
“We will work with our new Mayor Eric Adams to treat traffic violence like the preventable public health epidemic it is. We must use every proven tool to save lives. We must redesign deadly corridors, enact NYC 25x25, and reduce the number of cars on New York City streets - especially deadly trucks and SUVs, which we know have proliferated by 20 percent between 2016 and 2020 alone.”
“New Yorkers should be able to cross the street without fear of death. Children should not depend on the heroics of their caregivers to push them out of the way of a barreling pick-up truck. We are hopeful that the new leadership at City Hall will bring more groundbreakings for safe streets projects instead of more vigils for victims of traffic violence. We can achieve Vision Zero.”
Statement from Amy Cohen, co-founder of Families for Safe Streets and mother of Sammy Cohen Eckstein, killed at age 12 by a reckless driver in Park Slope:
“Families for Safe Streets is a group that nobody should have to join. We have all lost a family member or suffered a serious injury in a crash. Unfortunately our membership continued to grow up until the last hours of 2021. Arcellie Muschamp is a hero and we are heartbroken over her death. I know the horrific pain of traffic violence and unsafe streets in Park Slope all too well. On behalf of Families for Safe Streets, I am sending my deepest condolences to her family and all who knew her.”
“Our new mayor Eric Adams has long been a partner for Families for Safe Streets. We are eager to work with him to make streets safe citywide. This starts with street redesigns that protect the most vulnerable street users, more car-free spaces, and fewer deadly SUVs on city streets.”
“The epidemic of traffic violence also calls for action statewide, and that is why we are once again urging state legislators and Governor Kathy Hochul to approve the entire Crash Victim Rights and Safety Act. In 2022, Albany must approve Sammy’s Law so New York City can set lower speed limits, as well as pass an expansion of the life-saving speed safety camera program.”
“With the right tools, we can achieve Vision Zero. We cannot let more years go by without scaling the success of this program to prevent more carnage and heartbreak on our streets.”
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