The family of a 75-year-old Russian aspiring poet mourned her death in a hit-and-run and called for justice on Monday after a dump truck driver was charged in Friday's incident.
“It's so heartbreaking,” Alex Gervorskaya, 49, said of his aunt, Elena Gervorskaya, who was hit and killed by a car on Aug. 4 at the intersection of Shore Parkway and Shell Road in Brooklyn.
“I'm so sad this has happened. It's a huge tragedy for the family, for my father and for me,” her grieving nephew said. “She was a wonderful aunt, educator and did so much for her family and friends.
“I hope justice is served,” he added.
According to the NYPD, Gervorskaya was crossing the road just before 10:30 a.m. on August 4 when she was struck by a 2017 Mack Dump Truck, the driver of which fled the scene.
Police say a second vehicle, a black 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 40-year-old woman, rounded the corner and struck the elderly victim.
The Jeep also fled the scene, leaving Gervorskaya dead or dying on the sidewalk.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Brooklyn police investigated the incident on Friday and arrested suspect Frankie Rodriguez, 39, and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death or serious injury and failure to produce identification or a driver's license, police said.
“I'm very grateful to everyone who was involved in this process,” Alex Gerborski told The Washington Post. “I think it's good that someone is being held accountable.”
“Ideally, if you're going to do something like that, you should stay at the scene without moving. Leaving the scene is illegal,” he said. “The investigation found he was in the wrong.”
