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Pedestrian Killed By Street Sweeper In Front of Barclays Center

By Jesse Lent | December 15, 2012 2:19pm | Updated on December 16, 2012 10:41am

BROOKLYN — A city Sanitation truck fatally struck a man in front of the Barclays Center early Saturday morning.

Ronald Sinvil, 36, of W. 99th Street in Manhattan, was reportedly crossing Flatbush Avenue near Atlantic Avenue at 1 a.m. when the street sweeper hit him. The victim was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The driver of the street sweeper stayed at the scene after the accident, and police say no criminality is suspected at this time.

Calls to the Sanitation Department were not returned.

According to those familiar with the area, the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue has been problematic for a long time.

“It’s always been a very busy intersection and it’s always been a bit of a nightmare crossing it,” said James Knock, 31, who moved out of the neighborhood in March.

India McCoy, a 33-year-old MTA bus driver who lives in Coney Island, blamed the frantic pace of the traffic as the main problem as she stood at the site of the accident.

“It’s just crazy,” McCoy said. “There’s too much going on. You’ve got cabs, buses. They probably need a traffic officer like they have in Manhattan.”

When asked if the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic was a part of her bus route, she flashed a wan smile.

“It used to be,” McCoy said. “I’m glad I don’t have it anymore.”