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Brooklyn nurse killed by hit-and-run driver walking home from shift at NYU Langone
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Aug 30, 2026
Modified Aug 30, 2026
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Noam Galai/Getty Images
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published Aug 30, 2026
Modified Aug 30, 2026
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A nurse at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn was struck and killed by a car in Sunset Park on Saturday morning, marking the fifth fatal hit-and-run in the city over the last two weeks.
Jiayi Zheng, a 28-year-old Brooklyn resident, was crossing Third Avenue and 55th Street under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway just after 7:30 a.m. when police say she was hit by the driver of a 2014 Cadillac who fled the scene.
News 12 reported that Zheng had been walking home after working an overnight shift. She lived six blocks away, according to the NYPD.
Zheng was taken by EMS to the hospital she worked at, just a block away from the crash, where she was pronounced dead.
James Iorio, a spokesperson for NYU Langone Health, said the health system is “deeply saddened” by Zheng’s death.
“This is a tragic loss, and we extend our sincere condolences to her family, loved ones, and colleagues,” Iorio said in a statement. “Our nurses play an essential role in caring for others with compassion and dedication, and this loss is being felt across our entire community.”
The Federation of Nurses/UFT, which is the union representing NYU Langone nurses, confirmed Zheng was a member.
“We grieve her loss and honor her memory by recognizing the kindness and compassion she brought to our work and our community,” UFT Vice President Anne Goldman said in a statement.
Police say the driver of the Cadillac has not been identified, no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
The two-mile section of Third Avenue that runs beneath the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway is particularly dangerous, according to transportation safety advocates. The group Transportation Alternatives noted six pedestrians and five cyclists killed along the corridor since 2014.
That includes another NYU Langone-Brooklyn nurse, Clara Kang, who was struck and killed while biking home from work in 2020, just one block away at Third Avenue and 56th Street.
The city Department of Transportation presented a plan to redesign the road in 2023, but the project was put on hold under former Mayor Eric Adams.
“This was a horrific tragedy and our thoughts are with Jiayi Zheng’s family and loved ones," DOT spokesperson Vincent Barone said in a statement. "No loss of life is acceptable on our streets, and that is why the Mamdani Administration is committed to advancing a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue that will reflect the needs of the community and enhance safety for everyone. We will be sharing more information in the coming months."
City Hall said Sunday that a new traffic safety redesign of Third Avenue was announced last week as part of the Mamdani administration’s plans for the BQE. In a statement responding to the recent deaths, Mamdani said they underscore the need for Vision Zero efforts.
“Traffic deaths are at historic lows, but one death is still one too many,” Mamdani said. “No New Yorker should fear walking to school, biking to work or driving to visit a loved one, and we will keep doing everything we can to make our streets safer for everyone.”
Zheng’s death followed four other fatal hit-and-runs in the city over the last two weeks, including three cyclists and a pedestrian. Street safety advocates staged a “die-in” outside City Hall last week to call on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to do more to reduce traffic deaths.
“Sunset Park deserves a safe Third Avenue, and every New Yorker deserves to move around their city without risking their life,” Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, said in a statement. “New York City streets should be the envy of the world, but we are the envy of no one today.”
This story has been updated with new information.
Tagged
brooklyn
new york city
public safety
transportation
Michael Sol Warren
Michael Sol Warren covers New Jersey for WNYC and Gothamist, and previously reported on issues around the Garden State for NJ Spotlight News and NJ Advance Media. He can be reached at [email protected].
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