Caton Avenue Pedestrian Death Follows Dozens Of Recent Injuries (Updated)

DITMAS PARK, BROOKLYN — The 40-year-old pedestrian fatally hit by a truck Wednesday night at the intersection of Caton Avenue and St. Pauls Place was one of dozens of pedestrians hit by vehicles in recent years on the busy stretch of road.

The city's Vision Zero database shows that from 2009 through 2016, 18 pedestrians were injured at the intersection, though none fatally. Zooming out slightly shows that during that same period, 52 pedestrians were injured on Caton between Ocean Avenue and Parade Place.

Caton is a local truck route, and the tight stretch of road — one lane in each direction, with cars parked on either side — is packed with everything from 18-wheelers to personal vehicles to pedestrians and some bikers.

Graphic via the Department of Transportation's truck route map

Several traffic and pedestrian safety measures have been put in place at the corner. Two new LED streetlights are in place to illuminate the area. Additionally, the city has painted a turn lane and put up two plastic barriers to guide vehicles turning left from St. Pauls onto Caton.

And at the intersection, Caton itself is divided by a plastic barrier, though four of its six guard posts were missing on Thursday. The Department of Transportation (DOT) did not immediately respond to a question asking if repairs were planned.

One local resident Patch spoke to who was pushing a stroller and walking with another small child said she feels safe in the area, although she added that sometimes cars speed on Caton or run red lights.

"I actually wait" until the light changes to cross the street, she said.

But David Turenne, who said he's lived in the neighborhood for 17 years, had a different point of view.

The street is so tight that, "There's no room to do anything but drive straight and make no mistakes," Turenne said, adding that he both walks and drives in the area.

News 12 reported that the driver of the tractor trailer behind Wednesday's fatality said he never saw the woman he hit. Turenne said that parking on the street limits the visibility of drivers.

He also suggested that trucks should be moved from Caton onto another road, such as nearby Parkside Avenue.

News 12 reported that the woman who was struck was not looking at traffic and was talking on a cellphone at the time of the incident, while police said she wasn't in the crosswalk.

The way things are at the intersection, Turenne said, "Any simple mistake would cause an accident."

Update I: On Thursday, Adam Ullian, a spokesman for Councilman Mathieu Eugene, who represents Ditmas Park, released the following statement:

"First and foremost, Council Member Eugene is deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life. He is aware that that particular area has been a cause for concern regarding pedestrian foot traffic, and he is currently working with the Department of Transportation and Traffic Enforcement to find a way to make the area safer."

Update II: Also on Thursday, Alvin Berk, the chairman of Community Board 14, which includes the intersection of Caton Avenue and St. Pauls Place, released the following statement:

"Safety on Caton Avenue has been a serious concern for CB 14 for decades. Caton Avenue is a narrow, two-way street, functioning as part of the southernmost of Brooklyn's three east-west through truck routes. (The others are I-278 and Atlantic Avenue.) It carries heavy truck traffic through a dense residential neighborhood. That's why, when DOT proposed to create a bicycle route that would force bicyclists onto Caton Avenue, CB 14 objected. It's also why we insisted that buses not be displaced onto Caton Avenue by the current reconstruction of Church Avenue."

"We don't know yet whether the most recent tragedy could have been averted by changes in traffic controls. We're following up with the NYPD to learn more about the incident."

Pictured at top: a truck drives through the intersection of Caton Avenue and St. Pauls Place. Photos by John V. Santore