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A fatal collision in Crown Heights has left one woman dead and renewed concerns about safety along a busy Brooklyn corridor.
Police say Melba Jordan, 45, was killed Tuesday morning after a collision with a dump truck at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and Pacific Street in Crown Heights. They say she was riding an electric scooter northbound on Franklin Avenue shortly after 11 a.m. when the crash occurred.
Surveillance video obtained by News 12 shows a red dump truck turning toward the intersection moments before the collision. Seconds later, traffic behind the truck comes to a stop as bystanders on the sidewalk rush toward the victim.
Police said the truck's 68-year-old driver remained at the scene following the crash. Jordan was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where she later died from her injuries.
While the intersection appeared calm the day after the crash, some residents say the incident highlights ongoing safety concerns along Franklin Avenue.
"When I first moved here, I had an electric scooter, and Franklin was the spot that freaked me out the most," said Crown Heights resident Nina Dramer. "People have the idea that it's a residential area, but it's actually a really busy street. It creates blockages on the street, which in turn creates road rage. People get frustrated." Jordan's death marks the second fatal crash along Franklin Avenue in less than a week.
Just three blocks away, a 67-year-old man was killed in a chain-reaction crash while standing near a parked vehicle. The two incidents have left many neighbors shaken.
"It is just kind of shocking to hear about that in your own neighborhood," Dramer said. "I'm kind of shocked. I haven't heard about anything before this past week."
No arrests have been made at this time. The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.