1 dead after two cars, bicycle collide in Midwood, Brooklyn
MIDWOOD, Brooklyn (WABC) -- One person is in custody after a bicyclist was fatally struck by two vehicles in the Midwood section of Brooklyn Monday.
The unidentified victim was struck while biking in the crosswalk of Avenue P and East 12th Street just before 10 p.m. He was brought to Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The NYPD says a 2012 Honda Accord was traveling west in the left lane of Avenue P, and went through a red light at the intersection of Avenue P and East 12th Street.
Police said the Honda hit a 2015 Infiniti Q50, which had the green light and was traveling southbound on East 12th Street.
Both vehicles veered and hit the bicyclist who was traveling north on East 12th Street within the crosswalk. The two cars also hit a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and a 2014 Lexus ES350, which were both parked and unoccupied on Avenue P.
The driver of the Honda, 26-year-old Eduard Nikhman, was taken to Lutheran Hospital with chest pains, then taken into custody, charged with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.
The driver of the Infiniti was taken to Kings County Hospital with minor neck and back pain.
The investigation is ongoing.
The accident has also sparked a new safety push.
From distracted drivers along the busy avenue, to reminding drivers to be cautious, to reminding bicyclists going the wrong way, there is a renewed effort by police to remind everyone of Vision Zero, the city's effort to make streets safer.
After the wreckage was cleared from the intersection, the daily routine continued for area residents but with an eye toward more caution.
"I look both ways because I'm afraid of the streets. Because I know that the cars are traveling fast and I don't want to get hurt," said area worker Lillian Means.
And the Vision Zero message is for pedestrians, drivers and bicyclists alike.
"I wait and wait and wait, I don't even go until it's light because I'm scared to cross because it's a bad intersection here," said area worker Shilpa Sabarwal.
