On Thursday, November 2, 2023, a 79-year-old woman lost her life in a catastrophic chain of hit-and-run collisions in Brooklyn, New York.
The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. at the busy crossroads of East New York Avenue and Herkimer Street in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Yvonne Sandisord, walking in a marked crosswalk, was first struck and dragged by a gray Nissan Rogue as it made a left turn onto East New York Avenue. Moments later, as the driver fled the scene, a white Toyota Sienna traveling northbound on Fulton Street also struck the victim. The second driver also did not stop, leaving Sandisord unresponsive on the street. Emergency services arrived to help her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sandisord immigrated to New York City from Barbados in 1991. She had 10 children, 23 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The New York Police Department’s Collision Investigation Squad is seeking the two drivers involved in these hit-and-run incidents. No arrests have been made yet.
A witness and resident of the area expressed concerns over the need for greater vigilance among drivers, especially at night, and highlighted that many drivers in the neighborhood neglect to adhere to traffic regulations, including stop signs.
Local officials and safety advocates have long urged for improvements such as better lighting, clearer signage, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws to protect residents.
The NYPD is appealing to the public for any information that may lead to the identification and arrest of the persons involved in the incident. The police urge anyone with knowledge about the gray Nissan Rogue, the white Toyota Sienna, their drivers, or any detail about the incident to come forward.