By: Ariella Haviv

In a harrowing incident that has shaken the Crown Heights community, an eight-year-old Hasidic boy was struck and killed by an SUV while crossing the street with his sister on Saturday afternoon. According to law enforcement officials cited by The New York Post, the tragic accident occurred at the intersection of Eastern Parkway and Albany Avenue, a heavily trafficked crossing in the heart of Brooklyn’s Jewish neighborhood.

The victim, identified as Mordechai Keller, was hit by a black Honda Pilot driven by a 69-year-old man. The vehicle was traveling southbound on Albany Avenue when it collided with the boy at around 5:05 p.m. Emergency medical personnel rushed to the scene, but despite their efforts, young Mordechai was pronounced dead on arrival at Kings County Hospital.

Witnesses told The New York Post that Keller had been walking with his 17-year-old sister at the time of the collision. “They were walking, he was crossing the street with his sister,” said Ben Kattam, a 44-year-old Crown Heights resident originally from Toronto. “It wasn’t like [the driver] was drunk or something. And he had a green light. I can tell you that he looked very sad.”

While no charges have been filed against the driver, the NYPD confirmed that an investigation remains ongoing. Authorities emphasized that the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with police.

In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, members of Misaskim, a Jewish volunteer disaster response organization, arrived to ensure the scene was handled with sensitivity in accordance with Jewish law. Volunteers were observed collecting the boy’s bloodied garments and meticulously cleaning the intersection. As The New York Post reported, the care shown by Misaskim volunteers served as a somber reminder of the community’s resilience amid grief.

The heartbreaking incident has revived painful memories of another horrific tragedy that occurred earlier this year. In that case, Natasha Saada, a young Jewish mother, and her daughters Diana, 7, and Debra, 5, were fatally struck on Ocean Parkway by an out-of-control Audi. The driver, identified as 38-year-old wigmaker Miriam Yarimi, was later charged with three counts of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. According to The New York Post report, that case sparked a citywide conversation about pedestrian safety and the need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, particularly in areas with high pedestrian density.

Saturday’s incident has reignited similar concerns. Eastern Parkway, often considered a cultural and religious artery for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement headquartered nearby, sees constant pedestrian activity — particularly on Shabbat afternoons when families are walking to and from local synagogues.

Local officials have begun urging the Department of Transportation to reassess safety measures along Eastern Parkway. “This cannot be just another sad statistic,” said one community leader speaking to The Post on condition of anonymity. “Every time we bury a child because of traffic negligence or insufficient safety infrastructure, it is a failure of our city to protect its most vulnerable.”

Residents are calling for the installation of additional traffic-calming measures, such as raised crosswalks, improved signage, and longer pedestrian crossing times at intersections frequently used by children and families.

For now, the Crown Heights community remains in mourning. A small memorial of candles and flowers has been placed near the intersection where Mordechai was killed. His funeral was held shortly after sundown, in keeping with Jewish tradition.

The tragedy underscores an ongoing urban challenge: how to reconcile the pace of New York City traffic with the safety needs of its diverse and densely packed neighborhoods.

In Crown Heights, one message rang out above all others in the wake of the boy’s death — the cry of a grieving community demanding that “never again” truly mean never again.