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Virginia Driver Arrested For Killing Elderly Bushwick Pedestrian
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Mar 11, 2019
Modified Mar 11, 2019
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By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Mar 11, 2019
Modified Mar 11, 2019
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The NYPD has arrested a driver who fatally struck an elderly pedestrian in a Bushwick crosswalk this weekend, according to authorities.
Evaristo Mercado, an 82-year-old Bushwick resident, was struck on Saturday while attempting to cross Maujer Street, police said. According to a preliminary investigation, the driver of a Ford van struck the pedestrian as he was making a left turn from Bushwick Avenue just before 6 p.m. Mercado was transported to Woodhull Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The driver, 57-year-old Mark Smith, was arrested on Sunday and charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care, a misdemeanor and a violation, respectively. Police also found a small amount of marijuana in the Virginia resident's van, and charged him with misdemeanor possession.
Mercado's death comes amid an uptick in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities in the first few months of 2019. Another Brooklyn senior, 85-year-old Stella Clinton, was killed while walking on the sidewalk in Marine Park on Wednesday. There have been no arrests in that case, and an investigation is ongoing, police said.
Tagged
bushwick
failure to yield
pedestrian
pedestrian fatality
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Jake Offenhartz
Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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