Short summary: A 28-year-old nurse was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on August 29, 2026, right after finishing her overnight shift. When a driver flees the scene, New York victims and families generally still have options through their own insurance and, if the driver is later found, a separate claim against them.
She had just clocked out from an overnight shift at NYU Langone Hospital, Brooklyn. She was crossing at 3rd Avenue and 55th Street around 7:30 that morning, almost home, when a Cadillac sedan hit her and kept driving.
She died at the same hospital where she worked. The driver has not been found.
What we know about the crash
- The crash happened just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, August 29, at 3rd Avenue and 55th Street in Sunset Park.
- Police say a 2014 Cadillac sedan with Pennsylvania plates was headed south on 3rd Avenue when it struck her in the intersection.
- She suffered severe trauma to her head and body and was rushed to NYU Langone Hospital, Brooklyn, where she later died.
- No arrest has been made. The driver left the scene.
She's not the only one. Advocates tracking hit-and-run deaths say she's the 11th person killed on that same two-mile stretch of 3rd Avenue in the past 12 years, and one of at least nine people killed by hit-and-run drivers across the city in just the last two weeks of August.
When the driver disappears, what happens to your case
This is the part most families don't expect: you don't need the driver's name to start protecting yourself or a loved one.
Your own insurance may step in
New York requires uninsured motorist coverage on every auto policy. If you or a family member is hit by a driver who can't be identified, that coverage generally can pay for medical bills, lost income, and more, much the way the at-fault driver's insurance would have if they'd stayed.
The clock is still running
No-fault benefits in New York generally have to be requested within 30 days of the crash, even when the driver is unknown. Missing that window can cost you benefits you're otherwise entitled to. See our guide to the 30-day no-fault deadline for how that works.
If police find the driver later
Hit-and-run investigations sometimes take weeks or months. Traffic cameras, paint transfer, and tips from the public have cracked plenty of cases that looked cold at first. If a driver is identified, a separate claim against them generally becomes possible on top of any no-fault or uninsured motorist coverage already in play.
For more on your options when a driver flees, see what to do after a hit-and-run or uninsured driver crash. And if you're just past the moment of impact, start with the 10 steps that protect your claim.
Questions New Yorkers ask us
What if the hit-and-run driver is never caught?
You're generally not out of options. Uninsured motorist coverage on your own policy, or a family member's policy, can often cover injuries and losses even when no driver is ever identified.
Can I still get no-fault benefits if I don't know who hit me?
Generally, yes. No-fault coverage in New York doesn't require you to identify the driver first, but it does run on a short clock, so filing quickly matters.
What should my family do right now if this happened to us?
Get medical care documented immediately, request the police report once it's available, and hold onto anything that might help: witness names, photos, nearby doorbell or traffic camera footage. Deadlines vary by situation, which is exactly why it helps to get advice now rather than later.
Not sure where you stand after a crash? Get your free case review or call (347) 526-1246. A real person answers, 24/7.
Reporting: ABC7 New York.
