Posted to Accidents on

One Dead in Fatal Motorcycle Accident with Ambulance

BROOKLYN, NY [CHI] — A fatal accident involving a Hatzlah ambulance and a motorcycle claimed the life a Jewish boy in his early to mid 20’s on Kings Highway near Bensonhurst in Brooklyn earlier tonight.

More pictures in the Extended Article.

The tragic accident took place on Motzai Shabbos at around 9:30pm, and occurred in the intersection of Kings Highway and West 6th Street where the cyclist struck the hind quarter of the ambulance as it passed through the intersection with all its emergency lights on and its siren blearing. The ambulance was transporting an ailing patient to a local hospital.

According to second rider, who was riding along with the victim on his own motorcycle, said that they had the green light and he had heard the sirens and slowed down, but his friend didn’t and could not stop in time, and slammed into the ambulance.

Eyewitnesses said that the motorcycles rear tire turned upwards and crushed the rider up against the ambulance from the force of the impact.

The ambulance continued driving for another half a block and its operator began calling for emergency backup while he himself made a u-turn and rushed back to try and help the crash victim.

Hatzalah transported the aided to the Lutheran Medical Center in critical condition and in traumatic arrest, he was pronounced dead a very short while later.

Chesed Shel Emes and Misaskim responded to the scene to take care of Kavod HaMes and clean up the scene.

The victims name and age are not being published pending the notification of all family members.

Related Articles

42 Comments

  • so sorry

    Terrible accident, so unecessary. Sometimes (usually for me) it’s very hard to figure out where sirens are coming from. What speed must the biker been going if he couldn’t stop? And the Hatzolah guys must be devastated. Baruch Dayen Emes.

  • CN

    Bruch Dayan HaEmes. Motorcycles are very dangerous. A Rav should poskin it is assur for Jews to ride them.

  • We need Moshiach now!

    Hashem Yeracheim! Hamokom yinachem esckem…may the family and all those involved find comfort.

  • to: so sorry

    how can you even hint at rebuke at a time like this?!?! a lesson must be learned but not so soon! imagine the relatives reading this article,the would be devestated! to say its the injured’s own fault is pouring salt on our wounds…

  • DUDE

    motercycles take a muck longer distance to slow down…. think 2 to 3 times the distance of a car…… i forget what the exact ratio is but when your riding you see you know whats up….. this was completely unavoidable…

    -DUDE

  • NERVE BTW BROOKLYN

    rest in peach ben..u will be missed..my condolences to you and your family..from your boy NERVOUS NERVE!!

  • awacs

    (I wasn’t there, so I can’t apportion fault in this case, but) motorcycles are FAR more dangerous than cars. I’d like to see the Rabannim forbid them to ppl under a certain age … thirty, perhaps? Many, many riders get hurt or killed, G-d forbid, in accidents when weren’t their fault. “I never saw the motorcycle.” Hashem Yishmor.

  • anon

    motorcycles are AKA “organ donor mobiles” by medical personnel, vedal.
    Ushmartem es nafshisoiseichem.

  • tm

    I know the family,and they are hurting beyond belief, he was a beatiful young man with a promising future and my prayers go out to them. You cannot imagine what they are feeling right now. It was a terrible tragedy that should never have happened but it did and we cannot do anything about that now.

  • CN

    To rider: While I’ll pray it won’t happen to you, almost every motorcyle rider I have known has eventially been either killed or maimed by a riding accident. I remember one nice Jewish boy who posed in our high school year book with his motorcyle – who was killed in a biking accident in California several years after graduation. My college roommate, who took up motorcyle riding, was maimed in a riding accident on the Beltway in the DC area, and can never have kids as a result. The Torah prohibits dangerous activities. Motorcycle riding, in my opinion and experience, falls into that category. Growing up I was told again and again by my parents not to ride a motorcycle for that reason – and it was good advice which I am glad I took. Motorcycles travel at a high rate of speed and there is virtually no protection from (R”L) a crash. A Rav should assur it.

  • Levi, Omri

    Funeral is Monday at Shomrei Hadas Chapels- 3803 14th avenue, BK, NY 11218 at 11:45AM

    Thoughts and prayers to the Yohanan family.

  • YS

    While motorcycles do present more hazards than conventional cars and vans; One should be aware that with common sense and caution – motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds etc., can be used without a R“L tragedy occurring.

    Before we lay blame on something or someone, we ALL should make the world a little bit safer and better by doing everything we can – slowing down, looking out for ourselves & others (even if they should be looking out themselves), and in general – DON’T TAKE CHANCES, especially if it’s a question of R”L life or the opposite.

  • Chris

    i was riding (bmx) with a group of friends and we passed the site, so sad r.i.p.

  • Chris f

    ….I cannot say a thing,
    May heart is ripped from my soul,
    The person that has been taken Was an angel.

    I send my deepest prayers and condolenses to their family at this time..

    May the lord bring healing and love to them…..
    The Ferraro’s

  • a two-fold tragedy!

    Can we stop to think about this huge tragedy… Here is the scenario. It is Motzeh Shabbos, Tatty came home from shul, made havdalah, and now is having melavah malka with his family. His little one, who is playing a game with him, is excited to have Tatty give him attention. He is excited that he gets to stay up late because it is Motzeh Shabbos. Suddenly there is a voice on dispatch, someone is hurt, can we get a unit to ___ address, Tatty apologizes to his wife and kids and runs out, while his kids look after him longingly. They will grow up prioritizing chesed in their lives, but for tonight, an enjoyable evening was ruined. Tatty now becomes Hatzolah member #– and goes to treat the person who fell and hurt themselves. And then this, an unspeakable tragedy. Can we leave the Hatzalah driver alone?

  • Brooklyn Sefardi

    Shema Yisrael — This is such a tragedy!!! While I didn’t know him socially, he was always nice, happy and friendly in my many interactions with him in his store. All of our prayers are with his family — his parents, his wife and his new child, and all his other friends and family. Eloheem Yishmor. Baruch Dayan HaEmmet.

  • Steve Beylis

    Benny, may you rest in peace and look over your beautiful family.

    You were one of a kind.

    My deepest prayers and condulences to the Yohanan family

  • EJD

    Ben, You were a great guy, I remember when i dropped my bike in staten island, how you put it on your truck, strapped it, and gave me a ride home. offered to fix it for me , good good guy , i went riding with you for the last time on friday before shabbat.
    even though i only know you for about 2 months, i will miss you a lot.

    RIP Ben Yohanan

    EJD

  • http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?i

    I was passing by on my bike and saw the tragedy. It made me ask myself if i still want to ride… It was a terrible accident and I really feel sorry for the boy and his family. RIP

    Ruslan

  • m.y.

    A two-fold story..How?? Your husband came back home to you and your children. I don’t have my husband, my 2 year old daughter doesn’t have her father. I don’t see your tragedy.

    People should think before writing..

    BEN MY LOVE RIP
    WE MISS U AND LOVE U

  • Barry P.

    Ben, you were a great guy and even though we didnt see eachother much, you always greeted me with a smile and a kind word and when we think of you now, there were will still be smiles, but this time for the good memories, tears for the tragedy but also an infinite amount of kind words and love that will never fade away. Rest in Peace, you will be forever missed.

  • Barry

    You will be missed forever
    Ben, you were a great guy and always had a smile, kind word and helping hand for anyone who needed it, may you rest in peace and know that you are forever loved and missed.

  • a friend

    Yes, You are right M.Y.! You are the one with the tragedy no body else. People have no mercy, and they become selfish thinking only of themselves, they should THINK before they write something like that. We are behind you 100%!

  • NS

    WOW THIS WAS THE WORST THING I HAVE YET TOO HAVE SEEN. IM SITTING HERE AT MY DESK WITH TEARS & CHILLS RUNNING THROUGH MY BODY. MAY GOD BRING HEALING TO YOUR FAMILY. R.I.P

    YOU WILL FOREVER BE MISSED. :*(

  • The Merino Family

    Every single person that knew Ben either from the business to socially he was an amazing person with a personality that stuck to your heart. He treated every one with love and respect. This is a great loss for us on earth but a great gain for the heavens above. Even though he is no longer physically here with us we could still feel him watching. We could still feel his smile, his passion, his personality, and his love. May his love live on through his family, wife, and daughter. So they could bring the happiness to us as he once did. He will never be forgotten because how could we forget that we had and angel by our side.

    Ben rest in peace.
    You are in our hearts.
    – Marc Anthony

  • Imburgia

    I was at the scene of this horrible tragedy a life taken from us at such a young age. he leaves behind a loving family a wife and a baby girl who he will never see grow up. I know the man from the neighborhood we have a business down the block. All I can say is that I see everyday NYPD, Fire Dept, and Ambulances running there sirens and going through lights when there are no emergencies. I heard that the Ambulance was transporting someone with a broken leg in my eyes this is not an emergency. Something must be done about all these officials abusing there powers each and everyday. At least the Amblulance driver will be able to go home to his family. I feel very much pain for the young man and his family, and I hope God will comfort them and bring peace in their lives. RIP Ben.

    From Eveyone at Black Tie Limos

  • none

    I agree with Imburgia he is 100% on the money. You see them put on there light to get pass the light and then they turn them off. Also a wonderful person lost his life for a broken leg very very said!!!
    R.I.P BEN

  • SS

    I do not know this young man’s family but I wanted to send my deepest condolences to his family. While I was reading about this in the newspaper I was left with so many questions. I am in no way adding salt to the wounds of the driver as to be involved in such a tragedy is devastating however according to the article, the ambulance was coming from flatbush on way to maimonides hospital. Why were they going all the way to maimo when there are closer hospitals if it was such an emergency and why, if coming from flatbush to maimo, would they have been all the way down on w6th and kings highway?

  • mendel

    to: sad: what a stupid thing to write: “holy moly”!?!?! We say Baruch Dayan HAemes, or Hashem Yiracheim to invoke the RAchamai Shamayim!!

  • the Ruggiero family

    This is in regard to the article you published on April 19, 2009 regarding a fatal motorcycle accident killing a young man…specifically addressed to Mr.’two fold tragedy’…to make such an INSENSITIVE comment like that is extremely incredible in my eyes & makes me sick to my stomach! HOW DARE YOU turn Ben’s death into a selfish sob story about a VOLUNTEER Hatzoloh ambulance driver & his family celebrating Motzeh Shabbos.Mr.’Tatty’ will be able to celebrate for years to come, his little one will learn to deal w/’Tatty’ having to leave to go to work which he VOLUNTARILY does, unlike Ben’s 2 yr.old daughter who cannot yet begin to understand why daddy’s never coming home again. ‘Tatty’s little one’s longing is for that one night, ’til ‘Tatty’ comes home again. Ben’s daughter’s longing will continue through her lifetime, as she will NEVER get to know her father b/c his life was TAKEN from him too soon,just barely 25 with a young wife who is now a widow and single parent.Did you stop to think about THAT…instead of thinking how YOUR night was so TRAGIC b/c you had to do your JOB that you volunteer for. Ben’s wife is my cousin & even though we only met a few times, he was an AMAZING, LOVING, CARING father & husband, who loved his family dearly. Again…HOW DARE YOU make this young man’s TRAGIC DEATH about you leaving your family celebration…you can go home, you can watch your children grow into young adults. Unfortunately for Ben and his family,this is not the case…They live their lives every day LONGING for their huband,their father, their son,their brother,their friend to come home…and that day will never come for them…but for you Mr.’two fold tragedy’ you go home every day to your family!!! THINK ABOUT THAT!!! You’re extremely incensere and have no respect for the Yohanan friends and family!!!

  • MR

    I have known Ben for 15 years. He was an amazing person and always made everyone laugh. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, daughter and family.

  • Karina

    It’s so sad. Ambulance should slow down when approaching intersection. Was it really an emergence to take a guy to a hospital with a broken leg? Was it worth it to take a father away from a child who will never remember him? Was it worth it to take a husband away from a wife? No… I am disgusted when people stereotyped him as a “motorcyclist” and that they said it should be banned to until 30. It wasn’t his fault. You can be as caution as you can but Ambulance need to take precaution even if its late at night. What If i was walking down the street with my own child and a car made a fast right turn that won’t be my fault.

  • Vitaly

    Ben was a great guy, pure-hearted, always willing to help others and was one of the best and most talented riders I knew. I send my deepest condolences to his family and to everyone who knew him closely. It is truly a great loss to lose such a good hearted human being from our lives. I will always remember you Ben, it was an honor to ride with you. Rest in peace Benjamin.

  • Marc K

    Ben its gonna be almost 2 yrs since that night i look at these pictures still in shock it feels like yesterday when we went riding u are in my head every day and will always be in my heart forever no one can ever replace you. you were the most caring person ive ever been friends with in my life i still look at these pictures and see it happening over and over again in my head it destroys me i have ur pic by my desk every day and u always give me that push in life i know your in a much better place that i know

    love u forever