Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Children's TV Writer Fatally Struck by SUV on Cobble Hill Sidewalk

By Julie Shapiro | February 22, 2013 9:10pm | Updated on February 25, 2013 2:38pm

BROOKLYN — An Emmy-winning TV writer and Brooklyn Heights resident was killed when an SUV jumped a curb and hit her in Cobble Hill Friday evening, officials said.

Martha Atwater, 48, was walking in front of 200 Clinton St., near Atlantic Avenue, about 5:40 p.m. when the driver of a black 2011 Honda Ridgeline SUV heading north on Clinton Street lost control of the car and hit her, police said.

Atwater was taken to Long Island College Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

An experienced television writer, Atwater had credits on over 200 half-hours of live-action and animated programming for kids and families, according to her LinkedIn page, including "Clifford The Big Red Dog," "Goosebumps," "Dear America" and "I Spy." Atwater was a member of the Emmy-winning team for PBS series "WordWorld."

The former vice-president of the Entertainment Media Group at children's publisher Scholastic Inc., described her work credo as "Fast, Funny, Flexible."

Atwater also dabbled in adult humor writing with her blog, "Desperately Seeking Jon Stewart: Solving The World's Problems One Post at a Time." The witty blog professes the writer's desire to meet Stewart, but emphasizes that it's not a fan site and she isn't a stalker.

"The express purpose of this blog is to gain (eventual) access to Jon Stewart," Atwater wrote.

In her last entry, just a day before she was killed, she talked about a few high-profile worldwide news stories and provided her own solutions to each problem. 

She ends the post with a simple moral: "There is no problem that cannot be solved by ignoring the consequences of the solution."

Mourners and community members expressed sadness through Twitter over the weekend at Atwater's death.

"#martha mourning Martha Atwater, Brooklyn Heights Mom, neighbor, killed Friday by a truck on Atlantic Ave. Praying for her husband and kids," tweeted BBC news anchor Laura Trevelyan (@LauraTrevelyan).

"Our hearts go out to the family of Martha Atwater who was tragically killed in front of 200 Clinton St. yesterday afternoon by an SUV," tweeted Bklyn Hts Cinema (@HtsCinema).

"Rest in peace Martha Atwater....heartbreaking end.. My respect goes out to her family. #RIPMarthaAtwater," tweeted shaa dee yuhhh (@_flymetoParis)

Outside her Remsen Street home on Saturday, her husband Thomas Wallack said his wife had been a devoted community member and mother.

"You don't need any comments from me, because you can ask anyone in the neighborhood — she was a wonderful person, loved by everybody," he said.

He and Atwater had been married nearly 20 years, according to the New York Times.

"My wife was all about this community and her friends and family," he added, and said she leaves behind two children, 12 and 16.

The driver, a 53-year-old man, remained at the scene, and police said no criminality was suspected. The driver may have passed out due to diabetes, a police source told the Post.