Brooklyn, NY — A Brooklyn man who sped through stop signs and a red light while fleeing police, then struck two women crossing a Bushwick street and killed one of them, has been sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced Friday that Robert Matthews, 27, of East New York, received an indeterminate prison sentence of five to 10 years after pleading guilty to second-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting where death results. The sentence stems from a May 2024 crash that claimed the life of 71-year-old Juanita Vidal and seriously injured her daughter.
Fatal Crash Followed Attempted Traffic Stop
According to prosecutors, the incident began at approximately 5 p.m. on May 9, 2024, when New York City Police Department officers patrolling near Evergreen Street and Weirfield Street in Bushwick observed Matthews drive through a stop sign directly in front of their vehicle.
Police attempted a traffic stop, and Matthews initially pulled over before accelerating away at high speed, according to evidence presented in the case.
High-Speed Flight Ended in Deadly Collision
Investigators said Matthews drove recklessly through Brooklyn streets, crossing double yellow lines to pass vehicles, running multiple stop signs and a red light, and failing to signal while police followed with emergency lights activated.
As Matthews sped onto Eldert Street toward the intersection of Eldert and Knickerbocker streets, he allegedly drove through another stop sign and swerved to avoid a vehicle already in the intersection.
The maneuver sent his vehicle into Juanita Vidal and her 44-year-old daughter, who had begun crossing the street in a marked crosswalk.
Matthews then struck a parked vehicle and fled the scene on foot, prosecutors said.
Key Points
• Robert Matthews, 27, was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
• Prosecutors said he struck two pedestrians while fleeing police in Bushwick on May 9, 2024.
• Juanita Vidal, 71, died from her injuries, while her daughter suffered multiple fractures and punctured lungs.
Victim Died, Daughter Suffered Serious Injuries
Juanita Vidal sustained blunt force trauma to her neck and torso and later died at a hospital, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
Her daughter survived but suffered extensive injuries, including multiple fractures and broken ribs that punctured her lungs.
The crash transformed what began as a traffic violation into a fatal collision that devastated a Brooklyn family and became one of the borough’s most serious pedestrian crash prosecutions.
District Attorney Gonzalez emphasized the consequences of reckless driving during the sentencing announcement.
“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.
“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.”
Arrest and Guilty Plea
Following an investigation by the New York City Police Department’s Highway Patrol and Collision Investigation Squad, Matthews was arrested on July 22, 2024.
He later pleaded guilty on April 13, 2026, to second-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting where death results.
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Adam Perlmutter imposed the five-to-10-year prison sentence Friday as part of a court offer.
The case highlights the deadly consequences of high-speed flight on city streets, particularly in neighborhoods where pedestrians regularly cross busy intersections.
The sentencing closes a criminal case that began with a routine traffic enforcement encounter and ended with the death of a senior citizen and life-altering injuries for her daughter.
Current Status: Robert Matthews has been sentenced to an indeterminate term of five to 10 years in state prison and will serve that sentence following his conviction for second-degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.