NEW YORK, Oct 28, (Agencies): In the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, a tragic incident unfolded when a 7-year-old boy lost his life in a collision involving a New York City Police Department (NYPD) tow truck, according to local authorities.

NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey addressed the media during a press conference held at 1 Police Plaza. He detailed the sequence of events, explaining that an NYPD tow truck was heading west on Myrtle Avenue. Upon reaching the intersection of Myrtle Avenue and North Portland Avenue, the tow truck attempted a right-hand turn.

Simultaneously, Maddrey recounted, a young mother and her 7-year-old son were walking on the sidewalk of Myrtle Avenue, near the North Portland Avenue junction, with the intention of crossing the street.

Maddrey stated, "As our department tow truck executed the right-hand turn and started passing the crosswalk, the young child, who was walking with his mother, was struck. The child fell to the ground, and the tow truck driver immediately came to a halt. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded swiftly to the scene and, tragically, pronounced the child dead on arrival."

He expressed his condolences, saying, "My heart goes out to the family of that young boy, his mother, his school, and his teachers who were also present at the scene. It was an incredibly distressing situation to be part of this morning."

The NYPD confirmed that the tow truck driver was a 54-year-old woman who remained at the scene. Residents, like Mary Lynne Werlwas, in the neighborhood, were deeply affected by the tragedy. She described hearing the commotion and witnessing a crowd gather, with a distraught woman sitting on the street next to a lifeless figure covered by a white sheet, exclaiming, "My baby is dead." Werlwas shared, "The entire community is profoundly upset."

Maddrey acknowledged the limited information available at that early stage of the investigation, emphasizing the need for further inquiries.

In response to the incident, Transportation Alternatives, a nonprofit advocacy organization, expressed their anger via social media, stating, "We are enraged by the news of an NYPD tow truck striking and causing the death of a 7-year-old boy. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and this tragic collision has robbed this young boy of the future he deserved."