Driver Charged After 90-Year-Old Pedestrian Dies in Brooklyn
The official crash record says a 90-year-old pedestrian was killed at East 14th Street and Avenue U at 9:38 a.m. July 8; police later accused Steven Malcaus of leaving after riding a blue moped into the man.
What We Know
Police said Steven Malcaus, 63, was riding a blue moped south on East 14th Street when he collided with a 90-year-old pedestrian at Avenue U on the morning of July 8. The official record places the fatal crash at 9:38 a.m. and records one pedestrian killed. News reports identified the victim as Zhuo Xie, Zhuo Lin Xie, or Zhou Xie; they agree he suffered severe head trauma and died at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn. Police said the rider left the scene. Later reports said officers arrested Malcaus and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, aggravated unlicensed operation, and driving without a license.
A morning crossing ended in a fatal injury
The official record places the crash at East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn at 9:38 a.m. on July 8, 2025, and records one pedestrian killed and no other injuries.
Police said Steven Malcaus was riding a blue moped south on East 14th Street when he collided with the 90-year-old man at the intersection. News reports said the pedestrian suffered severe head trauma and was taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where he died.
Reports focused on signals, the crosswalk, and the rider’s attention
Police told reporters the pedestrian was in the crosswalk and crossing against the signal, while the moped rider had a green light. ABC7 reported that surveillance video showed the rider looking to his left seconds before the impact.
Reports also described the aftermath differently. CBS New York said the driver stayed about three minutes before moving the moped and fleeing westbound; ABC7 said he stayed about two and a half minutes; FOX 5 NY said video showed him leaving after about four minutes.
The victim was a 90-year-old neighborhood resident
News organizations identified the man with different versions of his name: CBS New York reported Zhuo Lin Xie, ABC7 and News 12 reported Zhuo Xie, and the Daily News and FOX 5 NY reported Zhou Xie. The Daily News said he lived about two blocks from the crash site, and FOX 5 NY said he lived nearby on East 15th Street.
CBS New York reported that the victim’s grandson hoped authorities would find the rider and raised concerns about motorcycles in residential areas. FOX 5 NY reported that residents described speeding mopeds as a recurring neighborhood problem.
The official record and witnesses described a moped
The official record lists a southbound moped with one occupant, going straight ahead, with center-front impact and damage. Witnesses and police reports described the moped as blue; a Daily News witness described the rider as masked.
Police later announced an arrest and charges
Brooklyn Eagle and News 12 reported that police arrested Steven Malcaus, 63, of Dyker Heights. Reports said he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and driving without a license; Brooklyn Eagle also reported a charge of aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.
Avenue U has seen repeated crash harm
The official record places the fatal crash at East 14th Street and Avenue U in Brooklyn, ZIP code 11229.
CrashCountNYC location context identifies Avenue U in Brooklyn as a corridor with 867 crashes, 603 injuries, 43 serious injuries, and 3 deaths recorded since 2022.