Juanita Vidal : “Driver Fleeing Police Kills One in Bushwick”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Police chase fatalities
2. Bushwick hit-and-run incident

A driver fleeing from police in a high-speed chase tragically hit two women in Bushwick, Brooklyn, killing one and injuring the other. The incident occurred at the intersection of Knickerbocker Avenue and Eldert Street, where the driver struck the pedestrians before crashing into a parked van and fleeing the scene. The 71-year-old victim, Juanita Vidal, was pronounced dead at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, while the other woman remains in critical condition. Police have not yet apprehended the driver, and concerns over the increase in police chases in New York City have been raised. Safe-streets advocates are calling for a ban on police chases to prevent further tragedies.

A tragic incident unfolded in Bushwick, London on Thursday night, as a driver fleeing from police in a high-speed chase struck two pedestrians, resulting in the death of one woman and leaving another critically injured. The driver, whose identity remains unknown, evaded a traffic stop near the intersection of Wilson Avenue and Eldert Street in a 2024 Mazda CX-5 at approximately 5 p.m. on May 9. Ignoring stop signs on Knickerbocker Avenue, the driver swerved to avoid a collision with another vehicle and tragically hit two women crossing Eldert Street.

**Details of the Incident**

The impact left both women, reportedly a mother and daughter, unconscious on the road. Emergency services rushed the 71-year-old victim, identified as Juanita Vidal, to Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The younger victim, whose name has not yet been released, was transported to NYC Health+Hospitals/Elmhurst, where she remains in critical but stable condition as of May 10. Subsequently, the driver crashed into a parked van, abandoned the vehicle, and fled the scene. The police investigation is ongoing, with the driver still at large.

**Rising Concerns Over Police Chases**

Incidents of police chases have significantly increased in London, with concerns raised over the safety of such pursuits. According to a report by THE CITY, chases are meant to be a last resort and should be terminated when the risk to the public outweighs the benefits of apprehending the suspect. However, some officials have expressed that these policies are not being followed as closely as they should be. Safe-streets advocacy group Transportation Alternatives voiced their dismay over the incident, emphasizing the dangers posed by high-speed driving, including during police chases. They called for a ban on police chases, both in policy and in practice, to prevent further tragedies like the one in Bushwick.

**Conclusion**

The tragic events in Bushwick serve as a stark reminder of the risks associated with reckless driving and police pursuits. As the investigation continues and the community mourns the loss of Juanita Vidal, calls for stricter regulations on police chases grow louder. It is imperative to prioritize public safety and reevaluate the protocols surrounding high-speed pursuits to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.