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NYPD: 3-year-old fatally struck in Harlem was from New Rochelle

Authorities say officers responded to a 911 call shortly after 7:30 p.m. about a car collision that involved multiple pedestrians at the intersection of Lenox Avenue and West 135 Street.

Roberto Torres and Melanie Palmer

Jul 12, 2024, 7:18 PM

Updated 145 days ago

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NYPD detectives say a 3-year-old girl who died after being struck by a car Thursday night in Harlem was from New Rochelle.
Authorities say officers responded to a 911 call shortly after 7:30 p.m. about a car collision that involved multiple pedestrians at the intersection of Lenox Avenue and West 135 Street.
Officers found the 3-year-old girl unconscious and unresponsive with head and body injuries. A 2-year-old boy, a 4-month-old boy and a 37-year-old woman were also found conscious and alert with minor injuries.
All victims were taken to NYC Health and Hospitals/Harlem where the 3-year-old girl, identified as Jaynelyse Valdez, was later pronounced dead.
All the other victims were listed in stable condition, according to detectives.
Investigators say a 40-year-old driver of a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder was traveling southbound on Lenox Avenue when he made a left turn with a steady green signal onto eastbound West 135 Street. It is there where police say the driver struck the four pedestrians who were crossing from the southeast to northeast corner in the marked crosswalk with the steady crossing signal in their favor.
The driver remained on scene and was not injured.
There were no arrests as of Friday night.
Neighbors in New Rochelle who lived near Valdez tell News 12 they are devastated.
"No parent should have to bury their children," says New Rochelle resident Richard Penn.
They say they are praying for her family during this difficult time.
"I just feel for them and I will pray for them because it's a journey when you lose someone, it's not just next week when it's over," says New Rochelle resident Gail Beale.