Barreto Court Case Recap

On June 3rd, 2024, Sunset Park lost an invaluable member of their community. Efrain Barreto, a hardworking man who supported members of his community, “He helped migrants and immigrants alike. He put myself and my brother through school, and did the best that he could and was a very humble man.”(Brooklyn paper par.12). He was fatally struck by a moped on 60st and Fifth Ave. After the collision, Efrain Barreto was rushed to the NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn in critical condition. Unfortunately, Efrain Barreto passed away on June 6th, 2024, due to the injuries he sustained. 

Abed violated traffic rules by driving an unlicensed, uninsured, and unregistered vehicle on the road. Driving a motor vehicle on the sidewalk and causing the death of another person constituted serious criminal negligence. Abed has not been charged with homicide as law enforcement is treating the incident as an accident. Instead, Abed has been charged with a misdemeanor. The handling of the case sparked outrage in the sunset park community and a heated debate about criminal justice.

The public’s anger over the case stems from the imperfections of the legal system. The sidewalk should be the safest space for pedestrians.  The public and Efrain Barreto’s family members all agree that Abed’s behavior of driving without a license and causing the deaths has not been severely punished by law. Barreto’s daughter, Vivian, believes Abed’s action should be upgraded to felony charges. She said "This guy got in his vehicle intentionally knowing that his license was suspended, evading police and disrespecting the laws that all of you including myself abide by.”(Brooklyn paper par. 8). Vivian believes that Abed should not be given the lighter sentence just because there is no clear provision for “driving without license to cause death” in the New York State legal system. Vivian’s public voice has attracted the public's attention. Also, she called more people to push for legislative upgrades to fill legal gaps. 

Sadly, this accident is one of many that has occurred within our community. People who dedicated their lives to supporting and helping others have lost their lives due to numerous incidents of reckless driving. These tragedies have shaken up communities, leaving citizens wondering who is next and when these senseless losses are going to stop. Further proving the urgency for stricter guidelines and regulations for mopeds and other electric vehicles. These guidelines and regulations will reduce the risk of these accidents occurring. By working together and supporting these changes, a safer, stronger community can be built. 

For more information: 
CONTACT:
The Office of Senator Stephen T. Chan
Phone: (718) 333-0311
Email: Chan@nysenate.gov