A Brooklyn man on Friday was sentenced to prison for running a red light and multiple stop signs while fleeing police in Bushwick, ultimately striking two pedestrians, a senior citizen and her daughter.
Robert Matthews, 27, of East New York, was sentenced to an indeterminate term of five to 10 years in prison as part of a court offer. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter and one count of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting where death results on April 13, 2026, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
On May 9, 2024, at approximately 5:00pm, the police were on patrol in the vicinity of Evergreen and Weirfield Streets in Bushwick when they saw the defendant run through a stop sign directly in front of their vehicle, according to prosecutors.
The officers attempted to stop Matthews, who initially pulled over, but then sped away at a high speed. The police, with their lights on, followed and saw the defendant driving at excessive speeds, crossing the double yellow line multiple times to pass other cars, run a red light and multiple stop signs, and fail to signal. The defendant’s vehicle turned on to Eldert Street and sped towards the intersection of Eldert and Knickerbocker Street at a high rate of speed, Gonzalez said.
Matthews then sped through a stop sign, swerved to avoid a vehicle in the intersection, and then struck Juanita Vidal, 71, and her 44-year-old daughter, who were beginning to cross in the crosswalk. The defendant then struck a parked car and fled on foot, according to prosecutors.
Juanita Vidal suffered blunt force trauma to her neck and torso and later died at a hospital. Her daughter suffered multiple fractures to her body and ribs, which punctured her lungs.
“This defendant sped through the streets of Brooklyn with no regard for public safety even after police tried to stop him, running red lights and stop signs and finally crashing into two women simply trying to cross the street," Gonzalez said in a statement. "Juanita Vidal lost her life, and her daughter suffered serious injuries. This prosecution brings the defendant to justice and underscores our commitment to keeping Brooklyn’s streets safe for all.”
