79-year-old pedestrian struck by driver, killed in Brooklyn

An 79-year-old woman died Friday after she was struck by a driver in Brooklyn.

Members of the East Flatbush community identified the victim as Yvette James.

Victim pinned between vehicle, wall

Police say the driver of a Lexus was traveling on Rutland Road around 1:30 p.m. when she tried to make a right turn onto East 92nd Street, but she apparently jumped the curb.

The driver struck a street planter, hit James on the sidewalk, then crashed into a building, police say.

"It was loud bang. Car came up on the sidewalk and scooped Ms. Yvette underneath the car, and it dragged her in. That's what it looked like to me," witness Smiley Adams said. "I don't know if it was an accident. I don't what was going on."

The victim became pinned between the car and the building, witnesses say.

"People started screaming and running and stuff like that," Adams said. "Some people ran, but as they got to the scene and seen what was going on, there was nothing you could really do."

James was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say the driver remained at the scene.

At this time, no charges have been filed.

Community mourns loss

Neighbors said James lived on the block and volunteered for the food pantry program at the Church of God on Winthrop Street.

"She volunteered. Very nice lady," one man said. "It was very heart-wrenching because she was a nice person."

One witness said drivers often speed around the corner where the crash happened.

"They try to catch the light, make the right turn, end up on the sidewalk," she said.