Last Friday morning, a somber atmosphere enveloped the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue in Queens. Krystyna Naprawa, a 63-year-old school crossing guard from Howard Beach, was tragically struck and killed by a dump truck as it turned right onto Atlantic Avenue.
The incident unfolded around 8 a.m. as Krystyna was diligently performing her duties. Despite prompt attention from first responders, she could not be saved, passing away at the accident site.
Hector Yepes, the 39-year-old dump truck driver, now faces charges of not yielding to a pedestrian and lacking due care.
Since 2010, Krystyna had been a beacon of safety for students. For her, guiding children across streets wasn’t merely a job but a heartfelt mission. Donald Nesbit, who represents school crossing guards at the union level, recalled her passion, saying her job “was everything.”
Following this devastating incident, Nesbit is urging the NYPD to boost the number of crossing guards, especially at perilous junctions like where Krystyna met her untimely end.
His appeal comes amid news that the NYPD aims to cut down on guard positions.
A troubling pattern emerges when examining recent data. Over a decade, from 2012-2022, a staggering 73 crossing guards faced vehicular injuries, as per a Streetsblog report.
Alarmingly, only a fraction of the responsible drivers faced legal consequences, with most receiving minor traffic citations.
The notorious Woodhaven and Atlantic intersection has already been linked to 12 crashes and numerous injuries in 2023 alone, with Crashmapper data highlighting an urgent call to action.
As the community mourns the loss of Krystyna, it’s evident that mere condolences are insufficient. Systematic, tangible measures are crucial to safeguard crossing guards, pedestrians, and all residents.
As attorneys specializing in truck-related accidents, we recognize that while legal actions post-tragedy might offer some consolation, preemptive steps are vital to avert such heartbreaking events altogether.