In a heartbreaking incident that unfolded just around the corner from her dwelling in Brooklyn, a 75-year-old woman, identified as Yelena Gervolskaya, lost her life after being struck by a dump truck and a Jeep.
The two drivers involved in the incident subsequently fled the scene, according to authorities.
The unfortunate incident occurred at approximately 10:25 a.m. on Friday as Yelena Gervolskaya was attempting to traverse the intersection at Shore Parkway and Shell Road in the Gravesend neighborhood.
Law enforcement reports detail that both a 2017 Mack dump truck executing a left turn onto Shell Road and a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee following the same trajectory collided with Ms. Gervolskaya, inflicting severe head trauma that proved fatal.
The victim, known for her close-knit ties with family and her role as a compassionate college professor, was pronounced dead at the scene. Remembrances from friends and family paint a vivid portrait of a woman who was not only a devoted matriarch but also a dedicated educator.
Her nephew, Alex Gervolskaya, emotionally shared, “She raised me from an early age. She was a lovely person and a wonderful person. She taught ethics at the university in Tula, Russia.”
An enthusiast of literature, Yelena Gervolskaya’s nephew described her as a poet and revealed her deep affinity for authors like Proust and Balzac, noting, “She was really all about books.”
A cherished friend, Natalia Heiylina, who had known Ms. Gervolskaya since their teenage years in Russia, remembered her as an “intellectual person” and a prolific poet, expressing aspirations to publish her works.
Gervolskaya’s brother, Mikhail Gerlovskiy, who described his sister as more of a maternal figure, reflected on the impact of her absence, stating, “She was like the health of a family. You take it for granted when you have it but when you lose it you feel it very acutely.”
Despite her diminutive stature, standing at 5 feet 3 inches, those close to her assert that there is little plausibility that the drivers involved were unaware of the collision.
Natalia Heiylina conveyed, “It’s impossible. Even just a little bump you would feel something. It’s not logical.”
The authorities have identified the operators of the involved vehicles as a 38-year-old man responsible for the dump truck and a 40-year-old woman behind the wheel of the Jeep.
As investigations proceed, neither driver has been subjected to criminal charges thus far, with law enforcement seeking to determine whether they were cognizant of the incident. Natalia Heiylina underscored the importance of accountability, stating, “Someone needs to answer.”
