Did a broken traffic light lead to fatal accident?

(New York - WABC, April 28, 2007) (WABC) -- Police want to know if a broken traffic light in Brooklyn led to the death of a 59-year-old woman.

The victim was on the sidewalk near the intersection of Clarendon Road and New York Avenue Friday when an out of control SUV killed a woman when it pinned her against a building.

Eyewitness News reporter Jeff Pegues has the story.

Josette Lewis is devastated. She shakes her head in disbelief. She just learned her dear friend was struck and killed in the accident.

"She was a good, good friend to me," said Lewis.

This SUV pinned her up against the brick wall of an apartment building. The vehicle smashed into several cars before finally coming to a stop.

"She was like a pin ball," said witness Orian Barziley. "She literally bounced off this sidewalk to that car, to that sidewalk, and to that building."

The victim was on the sidewalk. Police sources say the malfunctioning traffic light at the scene contributed to the deadly accident.

Residents are not surprised. They have been aware of the problem for a along time.

"That is shame," said resident Dudley Fevry. "This has been now for two years, on and off."

At the time of the accident, witnesses say the light was stuck on red one direction and green in the other. The driver of the SUV may have run the red light.

"The problem is that this light has not been working," Karlene Gordon, resident, said. "That has been ongoing issue."

The Department of Transportation confirms, they knew there was problem with the traffic light.

"This was terrible accident and our thought and prayers are with the family of the victim and those who are injured," the Department of Transportation said. "Our contractor had been at the sight earlier today prior to the accident to make repairs and we are currently investigating the situation."

It took DOT workers roughly 10-15 minutes to repair the malfunctioning traffic light. That happened after the accident.

The victim's friends say she was home health aide who may have been on the way to work at the time.

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