Thursday afternoon, March 5, 2020
Today friends and I decided to venture out in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. We didn't go to a restaurant but decided to visit a shopping center. The oversized parking lot was practically empty as we pulled in. Checking out a few stores we discovered few shoppers, lots of bargains and no waiting at the cashier line.
Our last stop was Home Depot one of my favorite places. We parked and walked up to the entrance surprised to see a police car pulling up as we approached the front door.
At that moment a cop came out with a man in handcuffs. We said nothing just walked past them. I may live in Brooklyn but I rarely see criminal activity. It made me wonder ... have we have become so immune to the insanity that we didn't react as we walked past the perpetrator and the cops, entered the store, took our shopping carts, and proceeded to the plant department.
Back at home - 4th Avenue and 101st Street
Time to post my Ezine Blog. It was around 7:00 which is usually my cut-off time for blogging but having been out all day I started looking for science and other news. Not much to publish as I searched for something of interest ...
Suddenly I heard a blood curdling scream from a dog and the thud of something hitting a car. I ran to the 4th Avenue side of my apartment and onto the terrace where I witnessed young men running helter-skelter everywhere and three black vehicles pulled over to the curb. This was more than a dog getting run over.
Instantly I called 911. Response time at NYPD has definitely stepped up since global insanity permeates reality. The first of many vehicles arrived on the scene by the time I hung up. In all I would say there were about 20 police cars, detectives, firetrucks, ambulances, three large white media trucks, and other vehicles carrying elected officials.
As police cordoning off the area firefighters try to help a man who was laying on the ground but they were too late.
Two hours later I took the pics above and fell asleep as the investigation continued below. I have no idea how late it went into the night but when I woke up this morning everyone was gone - the Super from the building where the body had been - accessing events. I turned on NBC news just as they were broadcasting the story.
From the NY Daily news; A man, 66, was fatally struck by a car while walking dog in Brooklyn
The 19 year old driver of a black Mercedes sedan struck and killed a 66-year-old man crossing a Brooklyn street on Thursday night, police said. The elderly victim was in the crosswalk on 4th Avenue at 101st Street in Bay Ridge at around 7 p.m. when he was struck by the car driven by a 19-year-old man, cops said. Local councilman Justin Brannan said on Twitter that the victim was walking his dog when he was killed. Photos from the scene show the car with a smashed windshield. Emergency responders pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The driver remained at the intersection. The dog was across the street limping on the sidewalk its two hind legs were injured.
Update Friday
The driver of the car had the right-of-way but was going too fast. The victim stepped into the intersection without looking. He lived on 4th Avenue and 93rd street so I probably didn't know him. The dog is okay and recovering at home.
The accident took place at this intersection where you see two trees.
The tree near the trash is where the man died after the accident.
The tree on the right has progressively uprooted this year. I always "see" it falling over in a storm and causing a fatal accident by hitting a car and/or pedestrians. The city comes to prune the trees but never seems to understand the danger of this tree at such a busy intersection.