50-Year-Old Father Of 4 Struck By Car, Killed In Borough Park
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Brooklyn man was fatally struck by a car in front of his own family while unloading groceries. His devastated wife is now demanding the driver be held accountable for leaving her four children without a father.
Jose Barrera lost his life just steps away from his home. The 50-year-old from Borough Park was returning from a grocery run with his wife and 6-year-old daughter when a car rammed into him Saturday night, sending him flying onto the sidewalk, police said. His widow did not want to show her face, swollen from crying, on camera, but spoke to CBS2's Christina Fan in Spanish.
"I ran out and I found my daughter crying hysterically and my husband laying on the ground covered in blood," the wife said through an interpreter.
Witnesses said Barrera had just set his little girl on the sidewalk near Fort Hamilton Parkway and 39th Street, turned back around to pick up groceries from the trunk when a two-door Nissan struck him. His wife in the front passenger seat felt the impact, while his daughter saw everything.
"She was crying so much. That's her father, her dad. We couldn't do anything to save him. The ambulance took him, but they couldn't do anything," the wife said.
Police said the driver stayed at the scene, and was taken into custody for questioning, suspected of driving under for the influence.
"I need justice. I haven't been able to sleep at night. I have nightmares," the wife said.
Friends said Barrera was a family man, who was especially close with his 6-year-old daughter.
"He is a good dad. He loved his kids. And now I don't know what's going to happen today now that they don't have him," the wife said.
She continues to wait for answers from police as to why the driver lost control.
The driver was released after passing a sobriety test, but was issued a summons for possession of marijuana.
