A beloved crossing guard died after he was struck by a garbage truck in Queens, New York last Friday while working, authorities confirmed to PEOPLE.
Krystyna Naprawa, 63, was on duty in the Woodhaven neighborhood of Queens when she was hit by a truck after helping pedestrians around 8 a.m. local time.
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed to PEOPLE that “a Kenworth dump truck driven by a 39-year-old man was making a right turn southbound at Woodhaven Boulevard and Westbound Atlantic Avenue, where he struck a pedestrian, an on-duty NYPD school crossing guard, who was standing at a marked pedestrian crossing.”
The driver has been identified as Hector Yepes, reports CBS New York. Yepes was charged with failure to yield and failure to exercise due care and is expected in court on Nov. 9, the New York Daily News reported.
A spokesperson for the NYPD confirmed to PEOPLE that the incident remains under investigation by the highway collision division.
Naprawa was a longtime resident of Howard Beach after moving to the United States 40 years ago from Poland, CBS New York reported. She served as an NYPD school crossing guard for 13 years, according to NBC 4 New York.
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After the fatal accident, New York Police Chief Edward A. Caban spoke out The fake death of X (formerly known as Twitter) and expressed the department’s condolences.
“Every school day, parents in the 102nd Precinct put their children’s lives in the hands of SCG Naprawa — and every day, she was there to protect them. This morning was no different, and the loss of SCG Naprawa is a tragic reminder of the very real dangers our school crossing guards face in the performance of their duties,” the message reads.
Commissioner Caban’s statement continued: “But despite these risks, she still chose to put the safety of others before her own. Even today, our hearts are heavy as we honor SCG Naprawa’s service and never forget her unwavering commitment to her community. Please keep her family and loved ones in your prayers.”
The post was also shared by the mayor of NYC, Eric Adams, who reposted the post with the headline: “Krystyna Naprawa represented the best of our school crossing guards and the NYPD. Her dedication to her work and community has not gone unnoticed, and this is evident in her outpouring of love. My prayers are with her family and all those who knew her.”
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Naprawa is the third guard struck by a vehicle “in a few months,” reports the crossing guards union, District 37 Local 372. Union Executive Director Henry A. Garrido wrote in a statement Friday that “every [deaths] above zero is unacceptable.”
“We are deeply saddened by the devastating loss of school crossing guard Krystyna Naprawa,” Garrido wrote. “These heroes put their lives on the line every day for our children and neighborhoods, and today’s tragedy makes that terrible fact inescapable.”
A candlelight vigil was held for Naprava on Monday night, PIX 11 reported.
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Source: HIS Education