A man lays dead at the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Broadway this morning after being hit by a vehicle. Photo by Belkis Carrasco for BushwickBK
At 7:12am today a man was struck and killed by a garbage truck at the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and Broadway, under the elevated tracks. Police from the 81st Precinct responded. The victim is a black male in his 60s; public information officers told BushwickBK his identification is withheld pending family notification.
The man, reported by witnesses to be walking slowly, was crossing Broadway eastbound on Myrtle when the truck, operated by Yankels Demolition, struck him traveling south on Broadway.
“It looked like maybe he was struck by the vehicle when crossing the street on his crutches,” said BushwickBK reporter Lucy Butcher, who lives on Broadway.
“The signal was about to change and he hobbled out into the street (very close to the grill of a garbage truck). He was immediately under the truck and his head was completely opened up,” said a witness (in the comments below).
The intersection was cordoned off for several hours.
Corbs March 18th, 2011 at 9:30 am
That’s very sad. Rode my bike right through that intersection at about 8:15 this morning. The intersection is such a mess…
Stubs March 18th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Crazy stuff. I saw it happen this morning on my way to work. It was about 7:10 am. The signal was about to change and he hobbled out into the street (very close to the grill of a garbage truck). He was immediately under the truck and his head was completely opened up. Nightmare fuel.
Danny March 18th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
I saw this on my way to work. Its pretty sad and unfortunate. Was the garbage truck driver in the wrong? Or did the old man ignore the light and went for it anyway?
Laura March 29th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
That intersection is a nightmare! Something should be done.
TrickyDick March 30th, 2011 at 2:04 am
Yes lets redesign all of Myrtle Avenue and all of Broadway for that matter!
Or maybe people can just be careful when they’re crossing the street? Close it to traffic all together!
Bushwick Person April 2nd, 2011 at 7:46 pm
That is a horrible intersection. I pass by there often and run when trying to cross the street for fear of all the the streets that intersect there. Sad thing is, drivers are never penalized as if humans are roadkill to be dismissed on the mean streets of New York that seem to be made for cars and not people.
Danny April 3rd, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Unfortunately the man wasent black, he was a white man. I crossed by that intersection where he was killed and noticed a picture of him. I immediately turned my head for a second look and to my amazement. I know exactly who he was. Very sad.