In a tragic incident in Coney Island, a Vermont motorist has been arrested for fatally striking Brooklyn mother of six, Tamika Richards, after she shielded her teenage son from an oncoming pickup truck. Mitchell Maldonado, 33, is facing charges for leaving the scene of the accident resulting in death and failure to yield to a pedestrian. Rayquan Parker, Richards’ 18-year-old son, was seriously injured in the crash, which occurred on March 3, 2023.
The incident occurred as the mother and son were crossing the street and Maldonado’s red pickup truck came barreling towards them. Richards jumped in front of her son to protect him, taking most of the impact herself. She was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved, while Rayquan suffered serious injuries to his pelvis that could affect his ability to walk.
After a year-long investigation, Maldonado was indicted by a Brooklyn grand jury for the hit-and-run and was arrested after serving a prison sentence for a burglary conviction in Vermont. Richards’ family has set up a GoFundMe page to help support her children and grandchild, as she was the primary provider for her family.
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition to name the intersection where Richards was killed after her, in honor of her heroism in protecting her son. The family describes her as a fearless spirit, provider, protector, and hero, who always put her children first.
Source
Photo credit www.nydailynews.com
