Driver Mounts Brooklyn Sidewalk; Yvette James Dies
Yvette James died near East 92nd Street and Rutland Road after police said a woman driving a Lexus RX 350 went onto the sidewalk during a right turn, where witnesses said James was pinned against a wall.
Reported by press, not yet linked to NYC police crash records. This may change when new official records become available or when matching details are reviewed.
Location under review
What We Know
Yvette James died Friday afternoon near East 92nd Street and Rutland Road after a woman driving a Lexus RX 350 went onto the sidewalk during a right turn, according to police accounts reported by local news outlets. Reports differ on some details: several outlets said the driver was turning from Rutland Road onto East 92nd Street, while the Daily News described the opposite turn. News reports also gave James' age as 79 or 80. Witnesses described a violent sidewalk crash, and friends and neighbors remembered James as a longtime food-pantry volunteer at a nearby church. Police said the driver remained at the scene, and outlets reported that no charge had been filed as the investigation continued.
A right turn ended on the sidewalk
Police accounts reported by several outlets said a woman driving a Lexus RX 350 was making a right turn from Rutland Road onto East 92nd Street just before 1:30 p.m. when she drove onto the sidewalk and hit Yvette James. ABC7 reported that police said the driver hit a sign before hitting James, and News12 reported that the driver crashed through a sign before hitting her.
The Daily News reported a different turn direction, saying police described the driver as turning from East 92nd Street onto Rutland Road. Multiple witnesses told reporters the crash involved the sidewalk and the wall of a building.
The crash happened at a corner neighbors feared
The fatal crash was reported near East 92nd Street and Rutland Road in Brooklyn. Outlets described the area as East Flatbush, while some News12 coverage and Hoodline described it as Brownsville.
Witnesses and neighbors told reporters drivers often take the corner quickly. One witness quoted by the Post said, "They come around this corner fast a lot. They try to catch the light, make the right turn and end up on the sidewalk."
Yvette James was known for feeding neighbors
ABC7 identified the woman who died as Yvette James and reported that her friends said she was a block from home. News12 reported that police identified her as James, and that friends and family said she lived just down the block from the crash site.
Friends and church members described James as a regular volunteer at a nearby Church of God food pantry. Pastor Duvil Baujour told ABC7, "A lot of people knew her," and said she helped distribute food. News12 quoted Pastor Duvil Baugour saying, "When delivery comes she's there. Sometimes, even if it comes at 4 a.m. she was a good helper for the program."
The driver stayed; investigators continued their work
Police said the driver remained at the scene, according to the Post, News12 and CBS. ABC7 and the Daily News reported that the driver was taken to a hospital.
News outlets reported that no arrest or charge had been filed immediately after the crash, and that police were still investigating what led to it.