A New York City garbage truck driver has been charged after allegedly striking and killing a 30-year-old woman as she crossed a Brooklyn street, leaving her devastated twin sister furious that he was allowed to walk away with a court summons instead of facing more serious charges.
Timothy A. McVey, 41, of Staten Island, was charged Wednesday, November 4, with failure to yield to a pedestrian and failure to exercise due care in connection with the October 28 death of Siobhan Lynch.
The tragedy unfolded around 6:35 p.m. at the busy intersection of Cropsey Avenue and Bay Parkway in Brooklyn’s Bath Beach neighborhood, where Lynch was crossing the street when a New York City Department of Sanitation truck made a right turn onto Bay Parkway.
According to police, the massive vehicle struck Lynch, throwing her onto the pavement and leaving her with devastating injuries.
Emergency responders rushed her to NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn, but doctors were unable to save her.
McVey remained at the scene and was not immediately arrested. Following a weeklong investigation, police charged him with two traffic-related offenses and issued a desk appearance ticket requiring him to appear in court at a later date.
But the decision has sparked outrage from Lynch’s grieving family, who believe the consequences are nowhere near severe enough.
Her twin sister, Shannon Lynch, said she was stunned to learn that the driver would not immediately face more serious charges despite the fatal collision.
“It’s shocking. The desk appearance ticket? It is very shocking the way this is being handled,” Shannon told The New York Post.
Although she does not believe McVey deliberately killed her sister, Shannon questioned how a professional driver operating such a large vehicle could fail to see someone crossing the street.
As an ambulance driver herself, she said she understands the dangers of operating heavy vehicles, especially when making turns near pedestrians.
“We’re aware of that blind spot! Anyone who drives the garbage trucks is aware of that blind spot!” she said.
“So my question to him, where were you rushing to?”
The family has also raised questions about whether Lynch was dragged after being struck, although investigators have not publicly confirmed that account.
The loss has been especially devastating because Siobhan and Shannon had recently celebrated their 30th birthdays together.
In a heartbreaking Facebook tribute, Shannon shared a photograph of the twins forming a heart with their hands, a joyful memory that has taken on painful new meaning.
“My gorgeous twin sister and I on our 30th birthday,” she wrote.
“If only I knew it would be the last birthday we had together. I’m truly broken forever.”
Siobhan was a graduate of the New York City College of Technology, where she earned a degree in graphic design in 2022. She had pursued work in graphic and web design and was remembered by loved ones as a creative, compassionate woman with a special affection for animals.
Her sister said Siobhan frequently fostered animals and worked to help those in need, reflecting the generous personality her family cherished.
Friends also described her as someone who had been looking forward to building a future with her boyfriend, with the couple reportedly discussing marriage and children.
Now, those dreams have been shattered.
The crash has also brought renewed scrutiny to the dangerous intersection where Lynch was killed.
According to the pedestrian safety advocacy group Transportation Alternatives, at least 30 people were killed or seriously injured along Bay Parkway between 2021 and 2025.
City traffic records also show a history of collisions near Cropsey Avenue, where wide roadways, heavy traffic and vehicles turning toward the nearby Belt Parkway create potential hazards for pedestrians.
Transportation advocates have long called for stronger protections at intersections where pedestrians must cross in front of large trucks and other vehicles.
The New York City Department of Sanitation has expressed condolences to Lynch’s family and confirmed that it is cooperating with the NYPD’s investigation.
“Given the ongoing nature of the case, we can’t say more other than to reiterate our prior statement that this is a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts are with the family of the victim,” the department said.
Officials have not publicly announced whether McVey has been suspended or faces internal disciplinary action.
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