Kills Mother/Grandmother to Cooper Park Houses’ Community
UPDATED: 09.27.23 1:14 p.m. Driver has been arrested.
On August 21 at 6:45 a.m., a 60–70-year-old woman (as described by NYPD) was crossing Kingsland Avenue. This woman was, Agustina Muniz, a long-time neighbor. She was hit by a dump truck making a left turn from Richardson Street onto Kingsland Avenue. The vehicle left the scene. Muniz was taken directly to NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull where she was pronounced dead.
The residents of Cooper Park Houses knew and loved Muniz as a part of the family. For thirty years she served children of the housing complex their meals at its community center.
“Mrs. Agustina Muniz lived in Cooper Park Houses and worked here since NYCHA ran the community center programs, and [she] transition[ed] through each organization that ran the programs for the community. She was well respected by the children and the community. Each child, young and old, knew that they wouldn’t leave the center without having a meal from her. She was a very humble and independent woman. We will truly miss her,” said Debra Benders, president of Cooper Park Resident Council.
A memorial for Agustina Muniz, placed at the entrance of Cooper Park Houses Community Center, has been collecting tributes. One that has been faded by Friday’s rain says, “Dear Grandma, I miss you every day. I miss your [indecipherable] laugh. I know it’s going to be tough, and I hope to make you proud. Your Grandson”
A celebration of Agustina Muniz’s life was held at D’Arienzo Funeral Home (104 Skillman Avenue) on August 27 from 3 p.m.–7 p.m. for those who wished to honor her memory.
NYPD is searching for the driver of the dump truck. The 94th precinct is maintaining a regular presence at the site of the hit-and-run, ticketing drivers , checking bills of lading, and offering safety information. They posted a truck route map and regulations on their social media the day following this traffic fatality.
Truck routes within the 94th Precinct span the full length of: Metropolitan Avenue, Franklin Street, Commercial Street, Ash Street, Box Street, Paidge Avenue, Provost Street, Greenpoint Avenue, McGuinness Boulevard, Meeker Avenue, Varick, Van Dam Street, and Vandervoort Avenue. Partial streets that are truck routes in this sector are: North 10th Street, North 11th Street, Union Avenue, Manhattan Avenue, Freeman Street, Green Street, Cherry Street, Lombardy Street, Bridgewater Street, Morgan Avenue, North Henry Street, and Kingsland Avenue (please refer to the NYC Truck Route map to see where the truck route is on these roads).
Richardson Street is not a truck route. Kingsland Avenue north of Greenpoint Avenue and south of Norman Avenue is not a truck route. This came as a surprise to me as trucks are a regular feature in my experience on Kingsland Avenue north of the BQE.
Trucks are allowed to travel on streets that aren’t truck routes if needed to arrive at their destination. But they must travel the least distance possible off of a truck route. Truck drivers must always have on hand a bill of lading, or similar document, showing the points of origin and destination of the trip. Drivers must present this for inspection on request of a law enforcement officer or other authorized person. The presence of signage is not required to enforce Truck Route regulations. They are also allowed to stop at gas stations. There is a gas station on Kingsland Avenue between Withers and Frost Streets.
A possible safety issue is that Richardson Street continues around a building at Kingsland Avenue. Many drivers take a left onto Kingsland and then snake right to continue on Richardson Street. This could take them to Vandervoort Avenue, which is a nearby truck route. Just before 3 p.m. on August 25, a large dump truck made that snake left and right turn right in front of me. In my experience, traffic rarely yields for pedestrians during a turn on or off Kingsland Avenue.
In the past, NYPD’s 94th and 90th precincts conducted enforcement of truck routes on Kingsland and Maspeth Avenues. The enforcement was through Brooklyn Community Board 1’s transportation committee as a collaborative request from Evergreen, OUTRAGE, Cooper Park Residents Association, GREC, St Nicks Alliance, etc. This was around a decade ago when these groups sought stop sign and safety upgrades on Maspeth Avenue.
NYS Assembly Member Emily Gallagher stated, “I’m heartbroken to learn of the death of Cooper Park Houses resident Agustina Muniz, killed by a dump truck driver on Kingsland Ave. Monday morning. A mother and grandmother, Ms. Muniz served meals to children at Cooper’s community center for decades.”
After a grand jury indicted him, Luis Gutierrez, 28, was arrested and charged with manslaughter on 09.26.23. He is awaiting arraignment.
The driver of the vehicle behind Gutierrez during the fatal turn had dash cam footage of the incident. It showed Gutierrez running a red light before hitting Muniz.
Agustina Muniz’s family have hired attorney Brett Nomberg to bring suits against Gutierrez and his employer, J Brothers Trucking, as the company’s vehicle was being driven at the time of the collision.
The Greenline 
A tragic incident occurred on August 21 when Agustina Muniz, a beloved member of the Cooper Park Houses community, was fatally struck by a dump truck while crossing Kingsland Avenue. The driver fled the scene, leaving behind a devastated neighborhood. Muniz had dedicated 30 years of her life to serving meals to children at the community center, earning immense respect and love. A memorial at the Cooper Park Houses Community Center entrance now collects heartfelt tributes from those who dearly miss her. 😢🏘️🌹
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