Photograph courtesy of MyLittleO.com

It’s with sadness that I learned that while I was out of the county fellow scooterist, and for that matter, fellow British ex-pat, Aileen McKay-Dalton was struck and killed while riding her Vespa LX in Fort Greene on Thursday July 8th.

Aileen, 40 and a mother of three, was riding on Clinton Avenue through the Dekalb Avenue intersection when an apparently speeding Ford Explorer SUV allegedly ran the red light and hit her. She was pronounced dead at Woodhull hospital shortly thereafter.

Rumors abound surrounding the activity of the driver of the SUV but it’s believed that the driver is either a federal employee or federal law enforcement officer. At this point no charges have been pressed by the NYPD. Neighborhood representatives are currently pressuring the local DA to investigate.

Further rumors suggest that Aileen may have been wearing iPod earphones while riding and didn’t hear pedestrians who attempted to warn her of the incoming vehicle.

Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, it is always sad to hear about the injury or passing of a fellow rider. While the reports of Aileen wearing earphones are unconfirmed, please do not even consider riding with earphones. Driving any vehicle, even a bicycle, and listening to earphones don’t mix.

Ride safe out there.

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