A few days before Mother’s Day, a hit-and-run in Brooklyn leaves a mother dead and an injured daughter

NEW YORK — A hit-and-run driver in Brooklyn killed a woman and critically injured her daughter just days before Mother’s Day.

Investigators said the driver got out of the car and ran after colliding with 71-year-old Juanita Vidal and her 44-year-old daughter who were crossing Elder Street near Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick. on Thursday evening.

According to the NYPD, the driver fled a traffic stop

Shortly before the fatal accident, surveillance video shows a blue Mazda apparently speeding through a four-way intersection, followed by a New York Police Department car.

According to investigators, officers attempted to stop the driver for a traffic violation but drove away. The NYPD did not say what the violation was.

According to police, the driver swerved to avoid another car before colliding with the mother and daughter and a van parked on the street.

“Boom! Like an explosion,” said Sandra Villaman, who saw the crash. “It was very fast when the police chased them. This vehicle was very fast.”

Rodrigo Gonzalez ran outside when he heard the car crash into his van.

“When I came out I saw my van was pushed against the tree and I just ran over here. And when I ran here, the ladies were on the ground,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a shock. It leaves you speechless.”

First responders took the women to the hospital, where Vidal died.

“I’m still in shock,” said Vidal’s son-in-law Juan Fernandez, who told CBS New York he was grateful his wife survived but was devastated to lose his mother-in-law. “I just had to break the news to my wife because she wasn’t feeling well. So it was quite difficult for me.”

Fernandez’s wife suffered seven broken ribs and injured her lungs in the accident. She is expected to remain in the hospital for a few more days.

Neighborhood mourns beloved woman

Vidal lived in the neighborhood for over 40 years. Her relatives said she and her daughter were going to a dollar store to buy decorations for her grandson’s birthday party when they were hit.

“A person that reckless could have hit anyone at that intersection,” Fernandez said.

“It is very sad what happened. “I’m still in shock because I literally just saw her a day ago,” said Andrea Harris, Vidal’s neighbor. “Very loving family, always with the grandchildren, with the children. So it’s really sad.”

A makeshift memorial grew next to the rubble of the accident at the intersection.

“Losing a mother is one thing, and losing a mother over Mother’s Day weekend is another,” Tanya Rosa said.

The driver was still on the run, the police said on Friday.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or in Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via the website or via DM on Twitter. @NYPDTips. All calls are treated confidentially.