Brooklyn, NY (October 18, 2026) – At around 1:03 a.m. on October 18, a 46-year-old man was struck and killed by a vehicle near Pitkin Avenue and Chestnut Street, police said. The driver left the scene.
Police said they responded to a 911 call about a pedestrian struck. Investigators say the man was lying in the roadway when a vehicle traveling east on Pitkin Avenue struck him.
EMS took the man to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His identity is being withheld pending notification of his family.
The driver has not been identified, and no arrests have been made. The investigation remains ongoing.
This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.
Hit-and-Run Claims and MVAIC Coverage in New York
NYC DOT reported 111 pedestrian deaths in New York City in 2025, down from 122 in 2024. When a driver leaves the scene, a family may still have a path to compensation, but it depends on steps taken early.
If the driver is never found, a claim may go through uninsured motorist coverage or the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation (MVAIC). Investigators say the man was lying in the roadway, and New York weighs each party’s share of fault. Since May 26, 2026, CPLR § 1411(b) bars recovery only when the injured person’s fault exceeds the defendants’ combined fault.
- First steps: Confirm that a police report exists and keep the case number, since MVAIC claims require a report within 24 hours (Ins. Law § 5208). Note nearby cameras at stores, buses and doorbells, because footage is overwritten quickly.
- Who may be liable: The driver and the vehicle’s owner once identified, along with their insurers. If no one is found, MVAIC or uninsured motorist coverage may apply.
- Deadlines: An MVAIC affidavit is due within 90 days (Ins. Law § 5208), which is January 16, 2027 for a death on October 18. A wrongful death claim must be filed within two years of the death (EPTL § 5-4.1), by October 18, 2028.
Contact Our Brooklyn Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
Founding attorney Arkady Frekhtman, a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 member, has led Frekhtman & Associates for more than 25 years. Our Brooklyn pedestrian accident attorneys represent families after a pedestrian is killed, including when the driver has not been found.
We investigate the crash, look for every available source of insurance, and deal with the insurers so the family does not have to.
Why Brooklyn families facing a fatal hit-and-run choose Frekhtman & Associates:
- $900M+ recovered for injured New York clients across more than 25 years of practice
- $69,225,000 auto accident jury verdict, one of the largest in New York State history
- Free 24/7 consultations, including home and hospital visits for clients unable to travel
- Personal callbacks from founding attorney Arkady Frekhtman
- Russian-language services available
- Zero fees unless we win your case
- Brooklyn office at 60 Bay 26th St, serving families across the borough
- $2,000,000 wrongful death result
You can reach us at 866-821-0718, visit 60 Bay 26th St in Brooklyn, NY 11214, or use our contact form.
