Friends said Yvette James spent decades helping distribute food before an SUV struck her on a neighborhood sidewalk.
NEW YORK — Friends and church members are mourning Yvette James, a 79-year-old longtime food pantry volunteer who was struck and killed Friday by an SUV on a sidewalk near her East Flatbush home.
James was about a block from where she lived when a Lexus RX 350 left the roadway near Rutland Road and East 92nd Street shortly before 1:30 p.m., police said. The vehicle struck street fixtures before hitting James and stopping near a building wall.
People who knew James said she was a familiar presence in the neighborhood and had volunteered at a church food pantry since 1998. They described her as someone residents regularly saw distributing meals, organizing crowds and helping people who needed support.
Pastor Duvil Baujour said many people knew James because of her work at the pantry. He said she helped establish its Wednesday food distribution and returned on Saturdays to assist with the crowd.
“A lot of people knew her,” Baujour said. “Because she was always the one to distribute food.”
Akeem Adams, who knew James from church, told News 12 that her death was a major loss for the neighborhood. He said she gave food to people who were hungry and tried to find shelter for those who needed a place to stay.
Friends said James often paused to rest on a planter while walking close to home. They said she was sitting near the crash site when the SUV came onto the sidewalk. Police said James was pronounced dead following the collision.
The impact damaged the front of the Lexus and deployed its airbags. Witnesses described hearing screeching followed by a loud crash and said neighbors ran toward the scene. James’ grieving relatives declined to comment while gathering her personal belongings.
The driver was taken to a hospital, according to local reports. Police had not announced any charges as of Sunday and had not released a final determination about what caused the vehicle to mount the sidewalk.
As the investigation continued, friends focused on James’ years of service and the people she helped. Her church had not publicly announced details for a memorial or funeral.
Author note: Last updated July 19, 2026.