Brooklyn nurse killed in hit-and-run sparks renewed calls for safety improvements
SUNSET PARK, Brooklyn (WABC) -- A Brooklyn nurse was killed in a hit-and-run crash while crossing Third Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn over the weekend, prompting renewed calls for safety improvements along a corridor that advocates say has seen multiple pedestrian and cyclist deaths.
Jiayi Zheng, a 28-year-old registered nurse at NYU Langone Brooklyn Hospital, was struck and killed after finishing work on Saturday morning, according to police and colleagues.
Surveillance video captured what would be the last time Zheng was seen alive.
Police said Zheng was walking on 55th Street in Sunset Park and had the right of way as she began crossing Third Avenue. She successfully crossed the first of three crosswalks before a speeding black Cadillac struck and killed her.
Colleagues at the hospital remembered Zheng as a dedicated nurse who often worked overnight shifts.
"She's 28. She's a young girl. She has her whole life ahead of her. I'm really really really traumatized, believe me," one nurse said. "I worked with her. She's a nice nurse, very nice nurse."
The nurse said Zheng always made people feel welcome.
Following Zheng's death, coworkers expressed grief and concern about the safety of the roadway.
Road safety nonprofit Transportation Alternatives said Zheng is the 11th person to die while walking or biking along the two-mile stretch of Third Avenue since 2014.
The organization also noted that Clara Kang, a 31-year-old NYU Langone nurse practitioner, was struck and killed by a motorcycle on the same avenue five years ago while biking home after an overnight shift.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city plans to move forward with a redesign of Third Avenue in Sunset Park beneath the Gowanus Expressway, a section long considered dangerous by residents and advocates.
"When it comes to Third Avenue specifically, we are going to be moving forward with the redesign of Third Avenue that has been stalled for quite some time," Mamdani said.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Mamdani also offered condolences to Zheng's family.
"All of us here at City Hall, and frankly across the city, are keeping the victim's family in our hearts. These are horrific, horrific hit and runs that we've seen over the past week," he said.
Some healthcare workers who regularly cross the avenue said they fear for their safety.
"I feel scared. I'm feeling scared crossing this poor road, this stretch of road all at once. It's scary," one nurse said.
Community members said a vigil in Zheng's honor is scheduled for Monday night.
----------
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Download our connected TV app
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
