In a tragic turn of events, the NYPD has announced that they "erroneously reported" the wrong identification of a woman who was struck and killed by a vehicle in New Dorp, Staten Island on Wednesday night. The victim has since been identified as Justine Perez, a 37-year-old resident of New Springville.

A Devastating Mistake with Grave Consequences

Misidentification and the Ensuing Grief

The initial report from the NYPD stated that the individual killed was a 44-year-old woman from New Dorp Beach. However, upon further investigation, the authorities were able to properly identify the victim as Justine Perez. In a statement, Assistant Commissioner Carlos Nieves of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information acknowledged the error and expressed the department's regret for the "unfortunate grief" they may have caused.The spokesperson for the NYPD explained that the responding officers made the initial identification based on the preliminary facts gathered at the scene of the collision. This erroneous information was then relayed to the Highway Investigators, who used it to make the wrong notification to the victim's family.

The Tragic Collision

The fatal incident occurred just before 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, when the NYPD responded to a report of a pedestrian struck in the vicinity of Hylan Boulevard and New Dorp Lane. An investigation by the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad revealed that Perez was walking against traffic in the left lane of Hylan Boulevard, which was Tottenville-bound.Perez was struck by a 2012 Nissan Maxima, also traveling Tottenville-bound in the left lane. The vehicle was operated by an 18-year-old man, who remained at the scene. According to a source with knowledge of the investigation, the Nissan had the green light when it traveled through the intersection of New Dorp Lane and struck Perez, who was a few feet outside of the crosswalk.Emergency medical services (EMS) responded to the scene and transported Perez to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze, where she was pronounced deceased.

An Ongoing Investigation with No Charges Filed

The NYPD has stated that no charges have been filed in connection with the incident, and the investigation is ongoing. The tragic loss of Justine Perez has left her loved ones and the community in mourning, and the NYPD's acknowledgment of their error has only added to the heartbreak.As the investigation continues, it is crucial that the authorities thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding this devastating event and ensure that such mistakes are prevented in the future. The safety of pedestrians on our streets must remain a top priority, and the NYPD must strive to uphold the highest standards of accuracy and professionalism in their work.