BK Reps Want More Cops At 'Dangerous' Corner After Fatal Crash

KENSINGTON, BROOKLYN — Outraged community members and elected officials rallied together to demand change after a dangerous Kensington intersection claimed a man’s life Tuesday night.

City Councilman Brad Lander and Assemblyman Robert Carroll promised to help bring safety measures to Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue — where an unidentified man was fatally struck by a box truck Tuesday night — when Patch’s coverage spurred a public outcry online.

“This is a horrible tragedy, at an intersection we have indeed long known to be dangerous,” Lander wrote on the Kensington Facebook group page Wednesday. “But we have not done enough … I'll work closely with Robert Carroll and Kensington & Windsor Terrace residents on this.”

Lander and Carroll followed up on this promise with a letter — addressed to Department of Transportation commissioners Polly Trottenberg and Cathy Calhoun, as well as NYPD commissioner James O’Neill — calling for a review of the “harrowing intersection” and increased police presence.

“We write regarding the tragic pedestrian fatality that took place last night,” Lander and Carroll wrote, “to seek your rapid collaboration in understanding what happened, and to do all we can, as quickly as we can, to prevent future tragedies at this dangerous intersection.”

Kensington representatives and residents argue updates, which were implemented after another pedestrian was killed at Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue in 2013, have done little to protect pedestrians from dangerous traffic.

After Ngozi Agbim, a 73-year-old librarian, was fatally struck by a tractor trailer, the city added a pedestrian refuge island on the northern crossing and adjusted signal timing to allow people more time to cross the street.

But residents said these adjustments have done little to stop impatient drivers from making illegal turns on and off the expressway.

“Too many drivers are turning from the outside lanes because they don’t want to wait on line with everyone else,” Jack Wallace wrote in the Kensington Facebook debate. “Drivers following the rules are forced then to try and avoid hitting that other vehicle while also watching for pedestrians.”

“I never feel safe crossing ocean parkway!” Joëlle Toledo added. “I was too slow for drivers when I was prego now I have my baby and I’m terrified crossing with a stroller.”

Drivers also complained of complicated traffic conditions.

“I’ve almost hit a handful of people crossing at that intersection,” wrote Duran Dominguez. “It’s scary on both ends.”

The Facebook commenters proposed a long list of solutions that included removing crosswalks, adding barricades, constructing a bridge for pedestrians, repositioning traffic lights and implementing stricter turning rules.

Lander and Carroll did not specifically mention these proposals in their letter, but called for the NYPD and DOT to conduct a review of the intersection which remains “very dangerous for pedestrians.”

In the meantime, the councilman and assemblyman asked O’Neill to amp up police presence on a corner where residents witness, “regular violations, including a steady flow of cars illegally turning.”

“We have an obligation, together, to do everything we possibly can to make sure that this ceases to be an intersection of death," the representatives wrote. “We know you share our agony about this tragic loss of life."

The Department of Transportation did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment and an NYPD spokeswoman said there are no updates on the investigation of Tuesday's crash.

Photos by Kathleen Culliton