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Woman Dead After Being Struck By SUV On Busy Eighth Avenue; Driver Charged

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A pedestrian died Monday evening after being struck on busy Eighth Avenue in Midtown Monday afternoon.

A black sport-utility vehicle struck the woman at Eighth Avenue and 38th Street just after 4:30 p.m., officials told CBS2.

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The woman was crossing the street when the driver of the SUV lost control, CBS2's Emily Smith reported.

The woman -- identified as Yuenei Wu, 67, of Brooklyn -- was rushed to Bellevue Hospital Center in critical condition and was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

An ambulance also came to the scene to take someone from the vehicle to an area hospital, Joe Biermann reported from Chopper 2.

People standing nearby said they heard a loud screech, and did everything they could to rescue the woman.

"I came across the street – like me and three other guys. I got down up underneath the car – like five or six people lifted up the car – and I went up under there and I pulled her out," said Good Samaritan Adam Smith.

"I heard the noise and commotion. I ran over. They said she was underneath the car. I grabbed the back bumper, and I told everyone to just lift," said Good Samaritan Gregory Grange.

"When she went into the ambulance, she was alive. So as far as I know, we were just trying to help her save her life," said Good Samaritan Juan Thompson.

The driver in the accident -- Edip Olzemis, 39, of Brooklyn, was arrested, police said. He was hit with a charge of failure to yield to a pedestrian.

Following the accident, Eighth Avenue was closed from 34th Street to about 40th Street. Police were trying to detour traffic onto some side streets, but Eighth Avenue was still at a standstill.

Neighbors said the woman who was struck was well-known in the neighborhood. They said she collected cans, and always greeted everyone.

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