19-year-old skateboarder in critical condition after being struck by car in Brighton Beach

According to the NYPD, a 19-year-old girl was riding her skateboard at the corner of Neptune Avenue and Brighton 10th Street around 8:30 a.m. when she was struck by a black car, Channel 12th Brooklyn reports. 

The incident happened as she was crossing the pedestrian crosswalk, and the vehicle made a right-hand turn, hitting her.

The victim has been identified by her family as Zuri Mesa Flores, who lives nearby. Witnesses reported that nearby workers used a bulldozer to lift the vehicle off Flores, while FDNY firefighter Jose Cristales, who was off duty at the time, came to her rescue. 

"We dragged the young lady out, and I immediately checked for a pulse and if she was breathing," said Cristales. "I had been sleeping before the commotion but started giving her CPR right away. It was the best feeling in the world because you want to try as hard as you can to save a life.”

The 43-year-old woman driving the vehicle remained at the scene, according to law enforcement officials. 

Residents in the area, which is close to two schools, told News 12 that people often drive too fast, and parents expressed concerns for their children's safety.