A 10-year-old girl named Yitty Wertzberger was fatally struck by an SUV in Brooklyn while standing in a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Wallabout Street and Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg. The driver of the vehicle, Isaac Karczag, was making a left turn against the light when he hit Yitty. She was rushed to the Brooklyn Hospital Center, where she was pronounced dead. The driver was charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian, failure to obey a traffic device, and failure to exercise due care. Despite the charges, he was issued a desk appearance ticket and released.
City Council Member Lincoln Restler, who represents the area, expressed his devastation upon hearing the news of the young girl’s death. The crash occurred just four blocks south of where Sarah Pitts, a senior assistant district attorney, was fatally struck by a bus while riding her bike in 2020. Restler emphasized the urgent need for street safety interventions in the area to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future. Assembly Member Emily Gallagher also expressed her sorrow over the incident and called for immediate action to ensure the safety of children walking in their neighborhoods.
The tragic death of Yitty Wertzberger has sparked concerns about pedestrian safety and the need for improved street safety measures in Brooklyn. The incident has highlighted the dangers faced by pedestrians, especially children, in urban areas. Calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and better infrastructure to protect pedestrians have been raised by local officials and community members. The tragic accident serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing pedestrian safety in city planning and traffic management.
The release of the driver with a desk appearance ticket has raised questions about the effectiveness of current traffic laws in holding motorists accountable for accidents resulting in the death of pedestrians. Stricter penalties for traffic violations that lead to fatalities, as well as the implementation of measures to prevent such incidents, have been proposed as ways to address the issue. The need for comprehensive road safety strategies that prioritize the protection of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, has been emphasized in light of this tragic event.
The death of Yitty Wertzberger has had a profound impact on the community, with many expressing their grief and calling for immediate action to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The incident has brought attention to the need for greater awareness of pedestrian safety and the importance of creating safe environments for children to walk and play. As the community mourns the loss of a young life, efforts to improve street safety and protect vulnerable road users have been heightened, with a renewed commitment to addressing the root causes of traffic accidents and fatalities in urban areas.
City officials and community leaders are working together to address the systemic issues that contribute to pedestrian fatalities and injuries in Brooklyn and other urban areas. The tragic death of Yitty Wertzberger has united stakeholders in a common goal of creating safer streets and promoting pedestrian safety through education, enforcement, and infrastructure improvements. By prioritizing the well-being of all road users, especially children, efforts to prevent future tragedies and create more walkable, bikeable communities can help ensure that everyone can travel safely in their neighborhoods without fear of harm or death from traffic accidents.
