An elderly bicyclist was struck and killed by a van in Brooklyn, police and witnesses said.
The
72-year-old man was riding south on Fifth Ave. in Park Slope Saturday
morning when the maroon passenger van crashed into him, cops said.
"At
the last moment I caught sight of him," said the 61-year-old van
driver, a Vietnam veteran who was visibly shaken. "I tried to stop the
vehicle."
It was too late.
The impact left the bicyclist,
who witnesses said was not wearing a helmet, critically injured.
Paramedics rushed him to Lutheran Medical Center, but he succumbed to
his injuries.
Police did not identify the man because they were
trying to locate his relatives. The driver of the van was not charged,
cops said.
"The van had the green light," said Munique Lee, of
the Bronx, who was getting her hair done on Dean St.
"The guy on the
bike really wasn't paying attention."
That must have been really traumatic to watch. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Thanks for that info. Rest in peace Bruno. Sad to hear
The man who was killed was named Bruno. A very sweet guy, always with a smile for everyone, he was a fixture on the corner of 12th St. and 5th Ave. where he worked overseeing clothes for sale outside a local shop. He was well known by all the neighbors on the block and will be missed.