It was just after 6:30 p.m. when two pedestrians stepped into the crosswalk at 18th Avenue and 49th Street, only to be struck by a Ford Transit van that left one man dead and another injured. The victims were identified as 84-year-old Noach Klein and a 54-year-old man, both residents of the Borough Park community in Brooklyn. According to police, the pair were crossing legally when the van, attempting a left turn, struck them in the intersection.
Emergency responders arrived within minutes, providing urgent aid before transporting both victims to Maimonides Hospital. Despite life-saving efforts, Klein was later pronounced dead from severe head and body trauma. The second man, though seriously injured, is expected to recover.
The driver, a 38-year-old man whose name has not been released, remained at the scene and cooperated fully with authorities. Preliminary reports suggest that neither speeding nor impairment appeared to be factors in the crash, though investigators are closely examining visibility issues and road conditions at the time of the collision.Klein’s death has left the close-knit Borough Park neighborhood shaken.
Known as a kind, soft-spoken man who rarely missed evening prayers at his local synagogue, he was deeply respected among his peers. Community members gathered Thursday morning at the scene, lighting candles and reciting prayers in his memory. “He was a gentle soul,” one neighbor said. “He lived his life with faith, kindness, and purpose.”
City officials are once again calling attention to pedestrian safety, urging drivers to exercise greater caution in intersections, particularly in densely populated residential areas. As the investigation continues, residents mourn yet another preventable loss — a reminder of how fragile life can be in the rush of everyday traffic. Klein’s memory will live on in the community he loved and served for decades.
