An 84-year-old Williamsburg resident, identified as Noach Klein, was tragically killed Wednesday evening in a pedestrian crash at 49th Street and 18th Avenue in Borough Park. He and another man were struck by a van while crossing the street, reigniting urgent calls from the community for safer pedestrian measures.
According to police, the crash occurred just after 6:30 p.m. when a 38-year-old driver in a 2018 Ford Transit van struck the two pedestrians. Neither man was crossing in a marked crosswalk, though officers say the light favored pedestrians at the time. Emergency crews rushed both men to Maimonides Medical Center. Klein was later pronounced dead, while the second pedestrian — a 54-year-old — sustained injuries that are not considered life-threatening, and he’s expected to recover.
Video footage from the scene captured first responders attending to the injured, while a scattering of personal items — a hat and broken glasses — lay near the impact site, emphasizing the brutal force of the collision. The van driver stayed on scene and is reportedly cooperating fully with investigators. As of now, no arrests or citations have been made.
The city’s Collision Investigation Squad is probing multiple possible contributing factors, including street lighting, visibility, and road conditions. Preliminary reports suggest that neither speeding nor impairment by the driver was apparent. In the 66th precinct — which includes Borough Park, Midwood, and Kensington — 164 pedestrian-involved collisions have already been reported this year. While this number is slightly lower than the same period last year, pedestrian fatalities have increased: Klein is the fourth pedestrian death in the precinct in 2025, compared to two by this time in 2024.
Neighbors described the intersection as especially perilous in the evening, citing heavy foot traffic and inadequate crossing infrastructure. Local advocacy groups say they’ve long pressed for additional traffic calming measures, more visible crosswalks, and better lighting — demands that now seem more urgent than ever. Many in the Brooklyn Jewish community expressed deep grief over Klein’s passing, recalling him as a beloved and active member of the Williamsburg circle.
In the wake of this tragedy, officials say they welcome anyone with information — especially video or surveillance footage — to come forward to assist the ongoing investigation. As the neighborhood mourns, the fatal crash serves as a harsh reminder of how vulnerable pedestrians remain, and how much remains to be done to protect them.
