The northeast corner of East 188th Street and Webster Avenue will permanently be marked by tragedy.

Earlier this month, the corner was conamed Donnette and Sean Sanz Place, in honor of a city traffic enforcement agent who was struck by a speeding van while seven months pregnant.

In 2008, at the corner now bearing her name, Donnette Sanz was on her lunch break when a van with faulty breaks rammed into her, leaving her pinned under a school bus. Some 30 neighborhood residents managed to lift the school bus off of her.

Sanz was rushed to the hospital where doctors performed an emergency C-section to save her baby.  Sanz died about an hour after the operation. Her son, Sean Sanz initially survived, but ultimately died about a week later. Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera said this was the first time in city history that a street would be conamed for a traffic enforcement agent.  He said the conaming sent a message: that service to the city will be recognized.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said it was a privilege to honor someone like Sanz, who he said was an effective worker, easygoing and always provided a helping hand.

Her widower, Rafael Sanz, 34, had long known her ability to help others. In 2004, Sanz gave him one of her kidneys.

“Three years ago, I got the worst phone call that a man could ever get,” said Rafael.

He said the conaming showed that the city cares, and that he continues to honor his wife and son everyday.

Sanz’s family flew in from Jamaica for the occasion.

Sanz’s niece Kerice McLean called the conaming a “sacred honor.”