Pedestrians struck, lives lost: A look at alarming string of crashes on Staten Island streets

New York’s Staten Island. A frightening number of collisions involving residents being hit by cars while trying to cross Staten Island streets have made the past few months hazardous, and in some cases, deadly, for pedestrians in the borough.

According to individuals familiar with ongoing investigations and the NYPD, some of these crashes included people crossing both within and outside of crosswalks, as previously reported by Advance/SILive.com. However, none of the drivers involved have been accused of speeding particularly or charged with any criminal offenses as of yet. Everyone stayed at the location.

Even though several of these life-altering incidents have occurred on the notoriously dangerous Hylan Boulevard, it seems that very few, if any, Island communities can be regarded as a safe refuge for pedestrians, whether they are traveling to work or a doctor’s appointment.

Residents are wary about walking on Staten Island streets because of the following six recent pedestrian accidents:

Woman, 37, hit on Hylan in New Dorp

On Thursday, October 31, 2024, a woman was killed by a car in New Dorp, and NYPD officers roped off Hylan Boulevard close to New Dorp Lane. (Image courtesy of LLN NYC)LLN NYC

According to an NYPD spokeswoman, authorities were called to a complaint of a pedestrian being struck at Hylan Boulevard and New Dorp Lane at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Halloween night.

The victim, Justine Perez, 37, of New Springville, was struck by a 2012 Nissan Maxima driven by an 18-year-old man while she was walking against traffic in the left lane of Tottenville-bound Hylan Boulevard, according to an investigation by the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, Perez was struck by the Nissan, which had the green light, as it passed through the junction of New Dorp Lane. Perez was reportedly a few feet outside the crosswalk.

Perez was taken by EMS to Ocean Breeze’s Staten Island University Hospital, where she was declared dead.

Annadale mom, 57, struck on Hylan in Dongan Hills

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, Christine Wasnieski, 57, of Annadale, and her mother, 80, suffered critical injuries while crossing the roadway near Jefferson Avenue and Hylan Boulevard in Dongan Hills. (Paul Liotta/Staten Island Advance)Paul Liotta/Staten Island Advance

According to police, 57-year-old Christine Wasnieskiof Annadale was driving her 80-year-old mother to a doctor’s appointment in Dongan Hills on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at around 11:45 a.m., when they were both hit by a Dodge Ram pickup truck at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Hylan Boulevard.

See also  Convicted sex offender considering political comeback in NYC

Wasnieski suffered severe injuries and eventually passed away from them after being taken to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, while her mother lived through the trauma.

Born in Brooklyn, Wasnieski had gone to a number of schools, including John Dewey High School and Mark Twain Intermediate School for the Gifted and Talented. She received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Staten Island and her associate’s degree from Kingsborough Community College.

The family, which includes her husband Kyle and their two kids, relocated to Staten Island fourteen years ago. Wasnieski was employed at United Cerebral Palsy as a social worker. According to her husband, she acted as an advocate for people, ensuring they received the assistance to which they were legally entitled. He claimed that she acted purely out of altruism for the majority of people.

Having made the decision to donate her organs, Wasnieski s family said they were able to take comfort in knowing that she was able to give the gift of life to three other individuals.

That s a really big thing and it means a lot that she s still living with that. She s living in other people, said Kyle. That is like one of the most precious things I got.

The family is hoping to see if there is a way they can get a scholarship named in her honor.

Woman, 92, critically hurt in New Dorp

A 92-year-old female pedestrian was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Hylan Boulevard on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Scott R. Axelrod)Scott R. Axelrod

A 92-year-old woman was allegedly crossing in the middle of the block on busy Hylan Boulevard in New Dorp when she was struck by a car on the evening of Dec. 4, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

The crashhappened at about 8:30 p.m. on Hylan Boulevard between Lindbergh and Allison avenues, police said.

The woman, whose name has yet to be released by the NYPD, was struck by a 2017 Honda Pilot driven by a 49-year-old man who was traveling Oakwood-bound on Hylan, according to a preliminary investigation by the NYPD s Highway District Collision Investigation Squad.

See also  Catch the St. George Theatre’s 21st annual Christmas show this weekend. Here’s how to get tickets!

The woman was rushed to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, where according to an NYPD spokesperson, her condition has since been upgraded to stable.

Employee, 64, killed on hospital grounds

64-year-old Kathleen Murphy of Willowbrook was fatally struck by a vehicle on the 200 block of Mason Avenue in the vicinity of Staten Island University Hospital on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Staten Island Advance)Staten Island Advance

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, at approximately 6:45 a.m., Kathleen Murphy, 64, of Willowbrook an environmental service worker at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breezewas heading into work when she washit by a Volkswagen SUV driven by a 67-year-old man while walking toward the building at 242 Mason Ave. from the parking lot, the NYPD said.

Murphy was just two weeks away from retiring from her job of 25 years and her 65th birthday, sources said, when the crash occurred.

While Murphy s family has declined to speak with the Advance/SILive.com at this time,a hand-written letter included in a tribute at the hospital s Ocean Breeze campus remembered her for her infectious kindness and caring nature.

There are many of us that did not know your name but knew who you are because of your kindness and how you would say hello and care about how others are feeling, the letter read.

Other took to social media to express similar sentiments about how Murphy impacted their lives while they or a loved one were hospitalized.

Man, 60, fatally struck by school bus in St. George

60-year-old Carl Calabro of Tompkinsville died after being struck by a school bus in the vicinity of Bay Street and Slosson Terrace on Wednesday, Dec.11, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Scott R. Axelrod)Scott R. Axelrod

On Dec. 11 at approximately 4:35, 60-year-old Carl Calabro of Tompkinsville diedafter he was struck by a school bus while he was allegedly crossing in the middle of the street during the Wednesday evening rush hour in St. George, source said.

The crash occurred when the 55-year-driver of the bus turned left onto Slosson Terrace from Bay Street toward the St. George Ferry terminal, according to a preliminary investigation by the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad.

See also  9 Staten Island churches to hold Simbang Gabi, a Filipino Christmas tradition, starting this weekend

Calabro was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton where he later died, according to a police spokesman.

While Calabro s family declined to speak with the Advance/SILive.com at this time, they disputed that the victim entered the street from outside the crosswalk.

Man, 84, critical after Tottenville crash

An 84-year-old man remains in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Amboy Road in Tottenville on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Luke Peteley)(Staten Island Advance/Luke Pete

An 84-year-old man who wasstruck by a vehicle while crossing a Tottenville Streetremains in critical condition, according to an NYPD spokesperson.

The crash, which the FDNY said took place on Friday, Dec. 13, just before 7 p.m., unfolded in the vicinity of Amboy Road and Fisher Avenue.

At the time, the 84-year-old pedestrian, who remains unidentified, was allegedly crossing Amboy Road mid-block between Fisher Avenue and Wood Avenue when he stopped in the southbound travel lane, police said.

It was at that moment he was struck by a 2017 Buick Regal operated by an 80-year-old female and traveling southbound on Amboy Road, police said.

EMS responded to the scene and transported the man to Staten Island University Hospital in Prince s Bay.

The investigations into each of these tragic crashes remain ongoing, according to police.

Related coverage: NYPD News

More From Author

+ There are no comments

Add yours