Transportation Alternatives, Families for Safe Streets Statements After SUV Driver Strikes and Kills 10-Year-Old in Williamsburg

Four children under 18 have been killed by traffic violence this year.

BROOKLYN, NY — On Tuesday afternoon, an SUV driver struck and killed a 10-year-old girl at Wallabout Street and Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 

In Albany, legislators are still negotiating the state budget. Today, Albany controls the speed limits on New York City’s streets. Sammy’s Law, named for Sammy Cohen Eckstein, who was killed by a reckless driver when he was only 12, would give the city control over its own streets. Sammy’s Law was included in both the governor’s and the state senate’s preliminary budgets, and is co-sponsored by 74 assemblymembers, including three-fourths of New York City’s Democratic delegation. Only the Assembly stands in the way of passing Sammy’s Law in the final state budget.  

Statement from Danny Harris, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives:

“We are devastated and angry to hear that an SUV driver struck and killed a 10-year-old girl today. No parent should ever have to bury their child.”

“Every crash is preventable, and we need every tool to make our streets safe for everyone, especially the youngest New Yorkers. One critical tool is the ability to control our own speed limits. Unfortunately, the Assembly has so far refused to pass Sammy’s Law, legislation that would allow us to set slower, safer speed limits on neighborhood streets.”  

“The Assembly is choosing to put politics ahead of safety. How many more children have to die before Assembly leadership takes action?” 

Statement from Amber Adler, a member of Families for Safe Streets who was struck and seriously injured by a car in Brooklyn in 2016: 

“My heart aches knowing that today, as an Orthodox Jewish family prepared for Passover, their 10-year-old daughter was struck and killed by a car in Williamsburg.”

“Our city and Orthodox Jewish community mourn for this young girl whose life was stolen, as it was just beginning. We must demand that elected officials who have refused to prioritize pedestrian safety over the movement of cars shift gears and pass Sammy’s Law to give NYC the ability to set its own speed limits to levels we feel are safe for our residents. We demand the Assembly include Sammy’s Law in the final budget and stop putting politics above children’s lives.”