Woman Killed On BK 'Shared Street' Was City Education Official

DOWNTOWN, BROOKLYN — A woman who was hit and killed Wednesday by an SUV on one of Brooklyn's new "Shared Streets" was an official with the Department of Education, officials confirmed Thursday.

Tracy Lewis-Belgrave, 40, was crossing the Pearl and Willoughby street intersection just before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday when she was hit by an SUV driving up Pearl Street, police said.

Lewis-Belgrave, who lived on Westminster Road in Ditmas Park, was rushed to the hospital, but died from her injuries. She was the Deputy Chief Information Officer for Finance and Administration with the city's Department of Education.

“Tracy was beloved by all of her colleagues, and I’m devastated by this tragic loss for the DOE community," Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza said. "I share my deepest condolences with her family, friends and colleagues. We will have grief counselors available to staff for as long as it is needed, and encourage anyone to reach out for assistance at any time.”

Police found Lewis-Belgrave unconscious with trauma to her body and rushed her to Brooklyn Hospital.

The 81-year-old driver of the 2004 Ford, which photos show was a dark grey SUV, was also taken to the hospital and is in stable condition. There are no arrests yet, police said.

The crash comes just two months after the intersection was included in a revamp of several Downtown Brooklyn blocks to turn the roadways into "Shared Streets," meant to give equal domain to cars, pedestrians and cyclists over the road.

The pedestrian-friendly redesign — which goes from Pearl to Lawrence street on Willoughby Street and from Willoughby Street to Fulton Avenue on Pearl Street — was the first "Shared Street" to be added in Brooklyn.

It included bump-outs so that cars can still drive down the street, but will need to do so slowly to weave in and out of the new pedestrian spaces. Cars are encouraged to drive no more than 5 mph on the roads, transportation officials said at the time.

Two intersections just a few blocks from the Shared Street spot were recently found to be two of the most dangerous for cyclists citywide.