BROOKLYN, NY, April 5, 2013:  Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Brooklyn) released the following statement regarding the tragic passing of two-year-old Denim McLean, who was among the ten people injured last Saturday when a car jumped the curb at the corner of Church Avenue and Utica Avenue. The driver allegedly ran through a stoplight and sped into a bus shelter where McLean was waiting for a bus with his mother Wendy, who was also hurt.

McLean died yesterday morning at Kings County Hospital as a result of his injuries; his mother remains in an induced coma.

"My prayers for peace and comfort to the entire McLean family and their extended community. The tragedy of losing Denim, especially at such a young age, is too much for words to express. We all pray for Wendy's recovery as well, understanding the great physical and emotional challenges ahead.

"This incident took place at the corner of Church and Utica Avenues, which has long been a problem area for accidents with pedestrians, even according to the Department of Transportation. I plan to meet with DOT officials in the coming days to discuss safety at this intersection and the Utica Avenue corridor in general. We must push for more traffic calming measures, measures that save lives and improve transportation in the long term. We need speed cameras at this cross-section and throughout this community, and it is my sincere hope that the State Senate will end their obstruction of this effort. While I do not know fully the details of this accident, I do believe that we must work together toward achieving greater accountability of drivers that cause fatal crashes. Finally, we must all exercise much greater caution on the roads. Getting to our destination safely must always be the priority."