In the wake of the horrific accident that claimed the life of an 11-year-old girl walking home from school, Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) is calling on the city’s Department of Transportation to do a comprehensive traffic study of Bath Avenue, where the collision occurred.

Amira Aminova – a student at I.S. 281, on 24^th Avenue between Cropsey and Bath avenues -- was struck and killed by a turning school bus at Bath Avenue and 23^rd Avenue just after 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 5. She had the right of way and was in the crosswalk when she was hit. The bus driver, who later is reported to have said he was unaware that he had struck a pedestrian, drove away. In the wake of the accident, the driver has been charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care.

Assemblyman Colton sent a letter requesting the traffic study to DOT, with a copy to the mayor’s office, on Monday, February 9.

“This is a terrible tragedy,” said Assemblyman Colton. “My heart goes out to her family and friends, who are suffering such tremendous grief at Amira’s death. The fact is, there have been numerous accidents on Bath Avenue, a busy street near many schools, childcare facilities and religious institutions, as well as the senior center at St. Finbar, and it’s long past time that the city do a study to determine what can be done to make crossing this street safer, to prevent such tragedies in the future.”

According to Crashmapper.org, between January, 2021 and now, there have been injury-causing accidents at every intersection except two between Bay Parkway and Bay 41^st Street. These include one other fatality, at Bath Avenue’s intersection with 25^th Avenue, in September, 2023, when a 66-year-old woman, crossing the street with her two-year-old granddaughter in a stroller, was struck and killed by a turning pickup truck.

In addition, in 2016, a seven-year-old girl riding a scooter was killed when she was struck by an armored truck at Bay 23^rd Street and Bath Avenue.

“I am hoping not only that the city initiates a traffic study of Bath Avenue, but that it expedites it,” said Assemblyman Colton. “The sooner safety measures can be brought to bear along this strip, the better it will be for the many people who live, work and go to school in the area.”

Imam Maaz Ali, of Masjid Iqra, a former intern in the office of Assemblyman Colton, conducted a memorial service for Amira on Monday, February 9.