NYPD Confirms Flatbush Vehicular Incident Was Accidental, Not Anti-Semitic Terror Attack

NYPD Confirms Flatbush Vehicular Incident Was Accidental, Not Anti-Semitic Terror Attack

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a statement addressing growing concerns and widespread speculation online, the New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed on Thursday that a vehicular ramming incident in Brooklyn, which left two women and a one-year-old child injured, was a tragic accident rather than a deliberate act of hate. According to a report in The Times of Israel, the incident occurred on Tuesday at the busy intersection of Kings Highway and Nostrand Avenue, an area with a significant Jewish population and located near the Kingsway Jewish Center.

Car runs over Jews in Brooklyn! They were walking with babies! https://t.co/stdsnxyVd1

— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) January 2, 2025

Surveillance footage that quickly circulated across social media showed a black minivan plowing into a group of pedestrians, including women pushing strollers, many of whom appeared to be Jewish. The shocking visuals sparked alarm and led to widespread speculation, with many social media users asserting that the event was a hate crime.

However, according to the information provided in The Times of Israel report, NYPD officials clarified that the incident was a “motor vehicle collision.” A 69-year-old man driving a 2014 Toyota made a right turn onto Nostrand Avenue from Kings Highway and struck three pedestrians. Authorities emphasized that there was no evidence to suggest malicious intent or premeditation.

As reported by The Times of Israel, the accident resulted in injuries to two women aged 62 and 56, and a 1-year-old boy. Emergency responders promptly arrived at the scene, and all three victims were transported to Maimonides Medical Center. Thankfully, their injuries were classified as stable, and they are expected to recover.

Amid rising online speculation and fear within the Jewish community, officials worked swiftly to address public concerns. Benny Polatseck, an official with the Mayor’s Office, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the incident was unequivocally “NOT a hate crime.” He further elaborated that the driver remained on the scene, fully cooperated with law enforcement, and was described as “extremely apologetic.”

The report in The Times of Israel emphasized that the NYPD’s investigation found no indication of bias or hate-driven motives, reinforcing that the event was a tragic accident, albeit one that understandably caused fear and distress in the community.

The timing of the Brooklyn incident compounded public concern, coming just one day after a horrific vehicular ramming attack in New Orleans that left 14 people dead and over 35 wounded. Additionally, as The Times of Israel report indicated, an earlier incident in May 2023 involved a man who was arrested on hate crime charges after attempting to ram Orthodox Jews with his car in Brooklyn.

These prior events heightened the sensitivity surrounding Tuesday’s collision, making the swift clarification by law enforcement all the more essential in preventing widespread panic and misinformation.

Brooklyn’s Jewish community, particularly in neighborhoods with a high concentration of Orthodox residents, has been on edge following a series of antisemitic incidents in recent months. While the NYPD’s confirmation that this was not a hate crime has provided some reassurance, the footage and initial speculation left a lingering sense of vulnerability.

The Times of Israel report explained that community leaders have called for increased vigilance and emphasized the importance of relying on official statements from law enforcement rather than unverified social media claims.

As authorities continue to address public concerns, The report in the Times of Israel highlighted the critical role of transparent communication in maintaining public trust. Law enforcement has reiterated its commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and responding promptly to incidents of bias or hate.

In the words of an NYPD spokesperson quoted by The Times of Israel: “This was a tragic accident, and our thoughts are with the injured and their families. We urge the public to avoid spreading unverified information and to trust the investigative process.”