In Brooklyn, New York, a 9-year-old boy died after he was hit by a private school bus in one of the “busiest intersections” of the Williamsburg neighborhood.

On Friday, May 1, Yoel Jacobowitz (also identified by police as Joel Jacobowitz) was walking to school when he was struck by a private yeshiva bus, which are often used to transport students to and from a Jewish yeshiva or day school, that was turning from Lee Avenue onto Lorimer Street in Brooklyn.

A release from the New York City Police Department and a news release from city council member Lincoln Restler confirmed the details. Jacobowitz was “unconscious, unresponsive,” with injuries to his head and body when police arrived. He was pronounced dead shortly after the incident, the NYPD confirmed to ABC 7.

Investigators reported that the 49-year-old driver of the bus initially drove away from the scene, according to People, but “he later returned after someone waved him down and told him what had happened.”

Intersection Safety Measures in Place, More Could Follow

Restler, who briefly visited the scene, told News 12 on May 1 that Jacobowitz was in the bus driver’s blind spot when he was struck.

“This is just a tragedy. I have no words,” Restler said about the accident that occurred in his district. “I'm heartbroken for the family, for this whole community in Williamsburg.”

In a release, the council member called for immediate safety improvements to the five-way intersection, including expedited painting of new markings, which were recently removed due to construction, and for the Department of Transportation to analyze signal timing to give pedestrians more time to navigate the area. Restler also asked the NYPD to station a crossing guard to “help children cross safely.”

On May 4, News 12 reported that safety measures, including NYPD traffic officers stationed daily at the intersection from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., are now in place. On Monday, the city also repainted crosswalk markings.

Restler also urged the city to consider additional safety upgrades, including a “Barnes dance” signal timing, which stops traffic in all directions to allow pedestrians to cross at the same time.

Hours after the child's death, Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the tragedy on social media.

“Children should be safe walking around our city,” he wrote on X/Twitter. “This horrific road death is a painful reminder that we must continue to use every tool available to make our streets safe for all New Yorkers.”

Currently, no charges have been placed against the bus driver.