Child Run Over and Killed by Neighbor’s Minivan in Bronx, New York

BRONX, NY- Nycnewyork.com reports that an 8-year-old boy was killed in the Bronx when his neighbor ran him over with her minivan. The neighbor had just dropped off the boy, Cellou Diallo when she lost control of the vehicle while trying to parallel park. The minivan hit the boy, then ran him over causing him to become pinned beneath the vehicle.

A witness at the scene said Diallo was standing on the sidewalk when the van hit him “out of nowhere.” The driver was heard saying “I just killed my neighbor child,” following the accident. The driver stayed at the scene, and the paramedics pronounced Diallo dead at the scene.

Parking can be hazardous to pedestrians. According to AAA, parking lots are the location of around 20% of vehicle collisions. Pedestrians are at risk for being hit be parking vehicles because of visibility issues and changing directions. Additionally, drivers often let their guard down when they are parking because they feel like paying attention is less important because they are not moving quickly.

While most of these accidents occur in parking lots or garages, it is not particularly uncommon for pedestrians walking on the sidewalk are struck by cars. In close to 10% of cases in which pedestrians were struck by vehicles, the victim was actually “off-road,” as in, standing or walking on the sidewalk or even in their home at the time of the accident.

In many cases, the driver does not face criminal charges because losing control of a vehicle does not often meet the standard of a “gross deviation” from the risks that a “reasonable person” would accept. While we often feel safe while walking on the sidewalk, evidence suggests we should stay alert and aware of the traffic around us at all times.

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