NYPD tow truck driver strikes, kills 7-year-old boy in Brooklyn NYPD tow truck driver strikes, kills 7-year-old boy in Brooklyn 02:29 NEW YORK -- A 7-year-old boy was struck and killed by an NYPD tow truck whereas on his strategy to faculty along with his mom Thursday in Brooklyn. Surveillance video reveals the boy, recognized as Kamari Hampton, …
NEW YORK — A 7-year-old boy was struck and killed by an NYPD tow truck whereas on his strategy to faculty along with his mom Thursday in Brooklyn.
Surveillance video reveals the boy, recognized as Kamari Hampton, driving a scooter on a crosswalk on the intersection of North Portland and Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene. The tow truck driver did not instantly cease after placing Kamari.
“I am devastated. I used to be coming to get my child’s breakfast this morning and the tow truck hit that little boy. He had a crosswalk. He was coming by way of the crosswalk, he had the fitting of means, on a scooter,” mentioned Antwon Hayes.
Witnesses watched in shock after which ran to assist Kamari, nevertheless it was too late.
Watch Jennifer Bisram’s report
The NYPD mentioned initially that the motive force stopped instantly on the scene, whereas witnesses mentioned in any other case.
“She hit that little boy and stored going. I needed to inform the housing employees to cease her, from her to maintain going. The mom’s screaming hysterically, ‘They killed my child!'” mentioned Hayes.
Witnesses mentioned the motive force was on her cellphone, dashing and ran a pink gentle.
“I believe I used to be crying greater than her, as a result of to see devastation like that, she simply stored screaming ‘They killed my child.’ And it is unimaginable. I am unable to think about my grandbaby that performed with him daily within the park being right here, laying down like that,” mentioned Tyrana Carter.
“Our coronary heart goes out to the household of that younger boy and his mom, his faculty, his academics who had been additionally on the scene, a really robust scene to be at this morning,” mentioned NYPD Chief of Division Jeffrey Maddrey.
Police inform us the truck driver, a 56-year-old girl who’s a member of the NYPD, has been arrested.
Mayor Eric Adams mentioned on social media Thursday evening, “We’ll do no matter it takes to maintain our streets protected.”
“That is the twenty fifth baby to be killed on Mayor Adams’ streets,” Transportation Alternate options Govt Director Danny Harris mentioned.
Harris says the Adams administration is delayed on road security plans.
“Due to resolution being made by this administration which might be withholding road security initiatives, it implies that lovely baby won’t ever come house once more,” he mentioned.
In line with Transportation Alternate options, 9 kids had been killed in visitors violence in New York Metropolis in 2020 and this was the 103rd time a toddler was killed in a visitors crash since 2014.
“How will we ensure that now we have extra crossing guards throughout the town?” mentioned New York Metropolis Council Member Crystal Hudson. “We have now to carry the NYPD accountable the identical means we count on to carry each different New Yorker accountable for obeying visitors legal guidelines.”
Residents who spoke to CBS New York’s Doug Williams mentioned they’ve by no means seen crossing guards on the intersection, which they name harmful.
“I am only a dad or mum on this space, however we have had so many conversations concerning security for our college students whereas they stroll to highschool,” Fort Greene resident Shawneke Move mentioned.
Balloons had been launched late Thursday afternoon in honor of Kamari, and all through the night, many Fort Greene residents stopped on the intersection to pay their respects by including to a rising memorial.
“And also you simply suppose, what in the event you had been strolling your baby to highschool and so they’re hit and killed?” New York Metropolis Public Advocate Jumaane Williams mentioned. “We want the group to recollect what occurred right here at present.”
One girl we spoke to mentioned she did not witness what occurred, however worse, her youngsters did. She took a second to be on the memorial in honor of Kamari earlier than returning house to place her youngsters to mattress and speak to them about what they had been pressured to witness.
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