Statement from Transportation Alternatives after Box Truck Driver Kills Pedestrian Crossing Morgan Avenue, the Fourth Death on Morgan since 2022

This was the fourth fatality and the 17th person killed or seriously injured on Morgan Avenue since 2022.

Three out of the four people killed on Morgan Avenue since 2022 were killed by trucks.

Over 500 New Yorkers have signed a petition calling on DOT to Make Morgan Safe.

BROOKLYN, NY — Around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, a man was fatally struck by a box truck while attempting to cross Morgan Avenue near Cooper Park. This is the fifth person killed in traffic in just two days, including three in Brooklyn.

This crash occurred on Morgan Avenue between Maspeth Avenue and Sharon Street, where there is a midblock exit from Cooper Park, but no crosswalk. On this stretch of Morgan Avenue, between Maspeth Avenue and Metropolitan Avenue, the road continues for 800 feet, or a four-minute walk, without a crosswalk. Pedestrians attempting to travel eastward from Cooper Park’s Sharon Street entrance have no safe place to go — and without marked crossings, curb extensions, or daylighting, visibility for pedestrians is severely limited. 

This tragedy marks the fourth traffic fatality on Morgan Avenue since 2022, and the third killed by a truck driver. Morgan Avenue is part of the City’s truck route network, streets that are disproportionately more deadly; truck routes account for more than 50% of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities from 2019 to 2022, even though they make up just 13% of city streets. 

In response to dangerous conditions along Morgan Avenue, Transportation Alternatives launched the Make Morgan Safe campaign in 2022. The campaign is asking for a comprehensive redesign of Morgan Avenue from Meeker to Flushing including a protected bike lane, improved sidewalk access, and daylit intersections. 

Statement from Ben Furnas, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives: 

“We are heartbroken and angry to learn that a New Yorker was hit and killed yesterday while crossing Morgan Avenue in East Williamsburg. 

“Morgan Avenue is deadly. We’ve been demanding better along the corridor for years, but despite several fatalities, the street remains virtually unchanged.

“We can not wait for another tragedy. The City must act now to redesign Morgan Avenue, rein in deadly truck traffic, and invest in infrastructure that truly protects the most vulnerable. These safety improvements like a protected bike lane, daylight intersections, and safe crosswalks are solutions we can implement now and are long overdue. Let’s get it done.”