Tragedy in Brooklyn: Dedicated Nurse Jiayi Zheng Killed in Heartbreaking Hit-and-Run

The Brooklyn community is mourning the devastating loss of Jiayi Zheng, a 28-year-old nurse whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence. After completing a grueling overnight shift, Zheng was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in the Sunset Park neighborhood, leaving colleagues, family, and residents in shock.

A Life Dedicated to Care, Cut Short

The incident occurred shortly before 7:40 a.m. on Saturday at the intersection of 55th Street and Third Avenue. According to police reports, Jiayi Zheng was crossing the street to head home when a black Cadillac traveling southbound struck her with immense force. The impact caused severe body trauma, and although she was rushed to NYU Langone Hospital, she tragically passed away shortly after.

In a poignant statement, NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn expressed their deep sorrow: “This is a tragic loss, and we extend our sincere condolences to her family, loved ones, and colleagues. Our nurses play an essential role in caring for others with compassion and dedication, and this loss is being felt across our entire community.”

A Pattern of Danger: The Crisis on Third Avenue

This tragedy is not an isolated incident, but rather a grim reminder of the dangers lurking on certain New York City corridors. The stretch of Third Avenue beneath the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway has become a focal point for advocates fighting against traffic violence.

According to the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, the statistics are alarming. Since 2014, this specific two-mile section has seen:

n
• 11 Total Fatalities involving pedestrians or cyclists.
• 6 Pedestrians lost their lives.
• 5 Cyclists perished.

Heartbreakingly, this is the second time an NYU Langone nurse has been killed in this vicinity. In 2020, another healthcare worker was killed while biking home from an overnight shift just blocks away from where Jiayi Zheng was struck.

The Urgent Call for City Action

For many, the death of the Jiayi Zheng nurse is a tipping point. Ben Furnas, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, described the event as “heartbreaking and outrageous,” urging the city to fast-track safety improvements that have been stalled for years.

Despite a 2023 city proposal to redesign the corridor to protect vulnerable road users, implementation has lagged. With nine hit-and-run deaths reported across New York City in just the last two weeks, advocates are demanding that City Hall treat traffic violence as the public health crisis it is.

How You Can Help

As of now, the driver of the black Cadillac remains at large. The NYPD is urging anyone with information, dashcam footage, or witness accounts to contact the authorities immediately to ensure justice is served for Jiayi Zheng.

Let us honor the memory of a woman who spent her nights caring for others by demanding streets where every worker can return home safely after their shift.