Here’s a followup on Friday’s story regarding the dump truck accident near the Manhattan Bridge that took the life of a pedestrian.
The driver, 24-year-old Maykel Felix-Tejada of Paterson, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation. He was operating the large truck even though his license had been suspended.
At about 12:30 p.m., police say 83-year-old Ka Chor Yau was struck as he attempted to cross Canal Street near Bowery. Cops said it appeared the truck had the right of way. Yau was rushed to the hospital but died of his injuries a short time later.
In May, officials with the Department of Transportation outlined safety improvements for Canal Street/Bowery, which they acknowledged as one of the most treacherous areas in all of Manhattan. At the time, they had recorded 16 pedestrian accidents since 2009 and one fatality. The zone around the Manhattan Bridge was designated a “high crash corridor.”
The plan called for creating a signal and crosswalk at “Bowery Slip,” right where Yau was struck and killed. The changes were approved by Community Board 3 in May. The work was supposed to be completed this month or next month — unfortunately not in time to save the life of an elderly Chinatown resident. Residents have been complaining about safety in this area for many years.
