Police: Driver Charged After Bicyclist Struck And Killed In Brooklyn Crash
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police say a driver who struck and killed a bicyclist in Brooklyn was under the influence at the time of the crash.
It happened just before 10 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Avenue P and 12th Street.
According to police, a silver Honda Accord was heading westbound on Avenue P when it went through a red light at the intersection, hitting a black Infiniti that had a green light on East 12th Street.
Police said the crash caused the two vehicles to careen into a bicyclist, who was seen on surveillance video crossing the street just before the moment of impact.
The mangled cars came to a stop against two other parked cars along Avenue P, the cyclist pinned and badly hurt.
"The guy with the bike was stuck between two cars and he was laying down on the street," said resident Dahlia Harpaz.
When emergency responders arrived, they rushed the bicyclist to Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
"The man crossing the street was so innocent and then boom," resident Mark Sasoon said.
Police say the driver who allegedly caused the crash, 26-year-old Eduard Nikhman, was on drugs while behind the wheel, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.
CBS2 spoke to his mother Tuesday, who says he has not been home since the accident. Her words were translated by a neighbor.
"She is in shock," the neighbor said. "He has issues with this problem for many, many years."
Minutes before the crash, witnesses spotted what looked to be Nihkman's Honda speeding through the streets of the neighborhood.
"Yeah, ran that light, this light. It all happened in a second, that's how fast he was going," said witness Matthew Diab. "The guy coming this way had no chance."'
Police said the drivers of both cars were transported to the hospital in stable condition. Nihkman was later taken into custody.
Meanwhile, residents in the neighborhood say Avenue P is a speedway.
"People constantly speeding," said resident Robert Rambadadt. "They've put a new light, done new construction on the roads, they've remarked and even changed the lanes, but people don't slow down."
Police have not released the name of the bicyclist who was killed pending family notification.
Nihkman has been charged with operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs.
