8-Year-Old Boy Killed by Minivan Related to Man Killed by NYPD in 1999

BRONX, NY- The nydailynews.com reports that the 8-year-old boy run over by a neighbor’s minivan on Monday was a relative of Amandou Diallo, who was gunned down by NYPD in 1999 after the police mistook his wallet for a gun. Amandou, who had immigrated from Guinea, was 22 when he was fired at 41 times in the front of an apartment building in the Bronx.

Cellou Diallo was standing on the sidewalk on East 215 Street while his neighbor was parking her minivan by the curb. The driver accidentally drove onto the sidewalk knocking Cellou down and running him over. One man who witnessed the events said the driver never saw the boy and that the whole incident was a “freak accident.”

The driver of the minivan is said to have panicked when she realized what happened. She stayed at the scene of the accident and is said to have been cooperating with the police.

According to Cellou’s sister, the family does not blame their neighbor, whom she describes as family. The boy’s brother, Thierno Diallo, said the driver intended to act “out of kindness,” and said the tragedy was an “act of God.”

Thierno described his younger brother as a bright boy who was doing well in school and always showed interest in math and science. He said Cellou loved maps and had memorized all the subway stops and lines.

Cellou’s uncle, Theirno Monenembo is an author who is well-known in Guinea. Monenembo has expressed his sadness surrounding Cellou’s death.

Accidents involving pedestrians getting hit while on the sidewalk occur more frequently than many people realize. In about 10% of accidents where pedestrians are hit by bars, the pedestrian is not in the street, but on a sidewalk or even in a building.

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