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Woman run down by SUV in Brooklyn dies of injuries: cops

traffic safety
A 67-year-old woman was killed this morning at the corner of St. James Place and Lafayette Street in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. (Photo by Todd Maisel)

A 67-year-old grandmother was struck and killed in a crosswalk by an elderly motorist making a turn in Brooklyn on Wednesday morning, police officials said.

The victim was identified by police as Stephanie Curtiss of 21 St. James Place in the St. James Towers. She was struck by elderly man driving a 1996 Ford Bronco at about 10:30 a.m. as she was crossing north-bound on Lafayette Avenue at the intersection of St. James Place in Clinton Hill to walk to her home in the St. James Towers.

She becomes the sixth fatal pedestrian struck in New York City, according to police officials.

Stewart Green, a resident at that intersection, saw the elderly man driving his Bronco from southbound St. James Place and make the turn eastbound onto Lafayette Avenue.

“I was coming from the coffee shop, and I observed Bronco make the left turn. I heard the noise and then saw a shoe under the car so I ran up and I kind of slowed him down — he was driving carefully, gingerly,” Green said. “I told him he had just hit someone and then the cops were there quick and tried to assist her. But yes, he hit her at the intersection as she was in the crosswalk.”

One of the purple Skechers that was worn by the victim struck by the Bronco, was still under the vehicle. (Photo by Todd Maisel)

Police said Curtiss was “unconscious and unresponsive,” when the arrived, her two purple Skechers still under the SUV. She suffered multiple trauma injuries and was rushed to Brooklyn Hospital, where she died of her injuries.

Tearful family members were said to have arrived quickly, as one family member lives in a private house on Lafayette.

Crash investigation officers were on the scene quickly and tried to piece together what had occurred. The driver of the Bronco remained on the scene as police investigated the crash. No charges had been filed at the time of publication.

Police question the elderly man who was driving the Ford Bronco that struck and killed the 67-year-old victim on Lafayette Street. (Photo by Todd Maisel)

Green said it was unusual for there to be a crash at this corner.

“This corner is much slower since moved here,” Green said. “It was originally two lanes, but now they have bike lanes and the city built out corners. It’s very much safer as far as driving, so this is unusual.”

Bicyclist swerves around police officer wrapping up his investigation of fatal crash on St. James Place and Lafayette. (Photo by Todd Maisel)